City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Grand Rapids, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Grand Rapids - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

197,768
Residents
$65,526
Median income
$225,500
Median home
$1,531
Median rent (state)

Grand Rapids - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Grand Rapids places in the 44th percentile for household income and the 12th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

44th
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
61st
percentile, median rent
12th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Grand Rapids, MI

197,768 people live in Grand Rapids, Michigan - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $65,526 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.1%. Typical homes in Grand Rapids are valued around $225,500, and the median resident age is 32.1 years. About 40.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 859 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 156% from five years earlier. Grand Rapids's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3390.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.3°F with 39.4 inches of precipitation per year and 77.6 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Michigan at 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,531 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Michigan's average monthly utility costs around $238 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 92.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

197,768 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$65,526 /yr

Poverty 13.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Grand Rapids compare to other US cities?

Grand Rapids measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% pricier than other cities
Safety 12% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Michigan alone, Grand Rapids ranks #231 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Grand Rapids against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Grand Rapids's strongest outlier among Michigan cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Grand Rapids ranks #11 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Grand Rapids only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#276 of 718
62nd percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#11 of 727
95th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#174 of 721
76th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#214 of 727
71st percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#122 of 727
83rd percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

44thIncome percentile
12thSafety percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income · 12th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Grand Rapids's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Grand Rapids's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Grand Rapids's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Grand Rapids's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$225,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Grand Rapids $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Grand Rapids, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Grand Rapids, MI median $65,526/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Grand Rapids, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Grand Rapids, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
197,768
Median Income
$65,526
Median Home Value
$225,500
Median Age
32.1
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Labor force participation
65.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3390.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
910.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2480.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.3°F
Annual Precipitation
39.4"
Annual Snowfall
77.6"

Schools

Total Schools
131
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
196,000 residents198,000 residents200,000 residents202,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 198,689 residents 201,183 residents ▲ +1.3%
Grand Rapids's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
859
housing units authorized
Single-Family
95
detached homes
Multifamily
764
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 336
2020 305
2021 286
2022 234
2023 495
2024 859

Permit volume increased 156% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.3%
Carpool
8.9%
Public Transit
3.1%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
12.3%
Other
2.1%

Based on 102,450 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Grand Rapids sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,531/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Warren
138,128 people
Sterling Heights
133,473 people
Ann Arbor
121,179 people
Lansing
112,546 people
Dearborn
107,846 people
Livonia
94,058 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Grand Rapids's 197,768 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sioux Falls, SD
197,642 people
Overland Park, KS
197,199 people
Montgomery, AL
198,440 people
Grand Prairie, TX
198,564 people
Sunrise Manor, NV
199,099 people
Birmingham, AL
199,322 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Grand Rapids's $65,526 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tyler, TX
$65,527 median income
Soso, MS
$65,521 median income
Sterling, OK
$65,521 median income
Churchill, OH
$65,533 median income
Harmony, MN
$65,536 median income
Boulevard Gardens, FL
$65,515 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Grand Rapids, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Grand Rapids, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 61.0% 17.9% 12.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.1% White 61.0% Black or African American 17.9% Asian 2.9% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.0% Two or more races 12.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Grand Rapids compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Grand Rapids (this city) 197,768 $65,526
Warren 138,128 $63,741
Sterling Heights 133,473 $78,429
Ann Arbor 121,179 $81,089
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Grand Rapids, MI?

What is the population of Grand Rapids, MI? +

197,768 people live in Grand Rapids, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Grand Rapids, MI? +

The median household income in Grand Rapids is $65,526 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Grand Rapids; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Grand Rapids, MI safe? +

Grand Rapids has a total crime rate of 3390.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Grand Rapids, MI? +

Homes in Grand Rapids carry a median value of $225,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Grand Rapids? +

Grand Rapids has an average annual temperature of 49.3°F, 39.4 inches of precipitation, and 77.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.