Population 16,907 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Grand
Household size in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.64 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.36 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in West Grand are small: just 2.29 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.65, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.7 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.1 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.5 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 32.0 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
West Grand is young: half of its residents are under 32.0, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 29.7, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in West Grand than nationally: 14.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 7.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in West Grand
Renters in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.0% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 51.6% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.2% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 55.8% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in West Grand: 55.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 35.2% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 6.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in West Grand as nationally: 9.9%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Grand Rapids area as a whole (6.6%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1940 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1942 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1943 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1945 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in West Grand is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1945, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1940 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $801 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $783 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $898 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,319 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$518 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Grand pays $1,319 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $518 a month from 2006–10, a 65% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 35.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in West Grand
Bachelor's degrees in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.3 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in West Grand than nationally: 32.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 14.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. West Grand has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Grand Rapids neighborhoods.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.9% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.8% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.6% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in West Grand never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. West Grand has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Grand Rapids neighborhoods.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in West Grand
| Period | West Grand | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Grand runs well above the national rate: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
West Grand compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Grand | 2.29 | 32.0 | 14.3% | 55.8% | 9.9% | 1945 | $1,319 | 32.5% | 82.6% | 8.2% |
| Swan | 2.35 | 27.2 | 14.0% | 74.5% | 14.0% | 1952 | $1,458 | 35.8% | 91.4% | 6.2% |
| John Ball Park | 2.58 | 32.5 | 5.6% | 31.3% | 11.0% | 1942 | $1,395 | 49.8% | 96.5% | 6.7% |
| Belknap Lookout | 2.03 | 31.2 | 16.5% | 68.7% | 11.3% | 1969 | $1,452 | 51.5% | 91.6% | 2.5% |
| Heartside-Downtown | 1.43 | 35.4 | 4.4% | 90.9% | 9.6% | 1962 | $1,082 | 49.5% | 92.5% | 9.5% |
| Westside | 2.31 | 40.5 | 10.3% | 22.8% | 6.8% | 1971 | $1,237 | 43.9% | 95.4% | 1.2% |
| Highland Park | 2.48 | 32.1 | 14.7% | 33.6% | 8.6% | 1959 | $1,431 | 45.4% | 98.0% | 7.5% |
| Heritage Hill | 1.93 | 32.0 | 6.5% | 68.5% | 7.4% | 1938 | $1,326 | 57.0% | 95.6% | 3.4% |
| Midtown-Grand Rapids | 1.90 | 29.4 | 10.9% | 60.9% | 8.5% | 1968 | $1,573 | 59.7% | 98.9% | 3.8% |
| Creston | 2.30 | 36.3 | 14.3% | 27.3% | 4.5% | 1953 | $1,421 | 40.7% | 95.0% | 4.3% |
| East Hills | 1.98 | 31.0 | 6.6% | 66.2% | 7.1% | 1938 | $1,405 | 62.8% | 98.8% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Vance Jackson, San Antonio, TX · Chimney Lakes, Jacksonville, FL · Citrus Grove, Glendale, CA · Cuf, Cincinnati, OH · Dayton's Bluff, St. Paul, MN · Gibson Springs, Henderson, NV · McCullough Hills, Henderson, NV · Playa del Ray, Playa Del Rey, CA · Sabre Springs, San Diego, CA · Southwest Carrollton, Carrollton, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up West Grand. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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