Census-designated place · Michigan
Jenison, Michigan
Jenison, census-designated place, in Ottawa County, Michigan. Jenison had 17,582 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,159). GEOID 2641680.
Residents, 2020-2024
17,582
±1,159 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 16,640
Median household income
$89,593
±$4,865 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$281,600
±$9,797 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$2,306
±$596 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Jenison and what county is it in?
Jenison is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Ottawa County, Michigan. It covers 5.9 square miles of land, 2,842 residents per square mile in 2020.
Jenison is in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Jenison lies entirely within Georgetown Charter Township, a charter township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Jenison, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Jenison's population at 17,582 (±1,159). The 2020 Census counted 16,640 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Jenison is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Jenison | Ottawa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,582 ±1,159 | 301,203 | no clear change |
| Households | 6,547 ±399 | 111,322 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.66 ±0.16 | 2.61 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,734 ±396 | 117,604 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Jenison?
The median resident of Jenison is 37.7 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 21.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.2%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Jenison | Ottawa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 ±2.2 | 36.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.3% ±2.9 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.5% ±2.6 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 47.7% ±2.0 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±1.1 pts | 10.3% | −2.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.8% ±1.9 pts | 81.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 5.1% | −1.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.4% ±1.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| With a disability | 12.6% ±2.3 pts | 10.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.8% ±0.9 pts | 3.3% | −2.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9% ±1.5 pts | 94.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.1% ±3.6 pts | 38.9% | +6.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.1% ±1.8 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.0% ±2.4 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Jenison earn?
Half of Jenison's 6,547 households earn less than $89,593 a year (±$4,865), against $90,502 in Ottawa County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $85,510 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Jenison | Ottawa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $89,593 ±$4,865 | $90,502 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $99,185 ±$5,592 | $115,371 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,822 ±$1,922 | $42,799 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.7% ±1.5 pts | 8.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.8% ±2.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.9% ±1.3 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±4.0 pts | 97.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.6% ±4.1 pts | 93.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Jenison?
Owners occupy 87.9% of Jenison's occupied homes and renters 12.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $281,600 by its owner (±$9,797). The median renter pays $2,306 a month including utilities, and 74.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Jenison | Ottawa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $281,600 ±$9,797 | $323,400 | +$71,028 |
| Median gross rent | $2,306 ±$596 | $1,211 | +$1,177 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 74.0% ±14.3 pts | 39.8% | +22.3 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,433 ±$45 | $1,656 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.9% ±4.2 pts | 79.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.1% ±4.2 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Housing units | 6,734 ±396 | 117,604 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±3.2 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.8% ±4.4 pts | 69.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.4% ±1.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.0% ±1.5 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.2% ±1.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Jenison work and get to work?
79.1% of Jenison's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 1.9%.
| Measure | Jenison | Ottawa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.0% ±2.9 pts | 66.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.1% ±3.7 pts | 77.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.4% ±3.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.4% ±2.5 pts | 10.3% | +6.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.1 min ±1.3 | 20.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Jenison?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Jenison, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $86,250 (Tract 216.03) to $95,717 (Tract 216.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 216.04Ottawa County | 7,454 | $95,717 |
| Tract 216.06Ottawa County | 5,568 | $88,737 |
| Tract 216.03Ottawa County | 4,451 | $86,250 |
| Tract 216.05Ottawa County | 3,714 | $116,813 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Jenison) · Census block assignment files
How does Jenison compare with other places in Michigan?
Jenison ranks 285th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 123rd | 1,356 |
| Residents per square mile | 76th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 285th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 654th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 274th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 5th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 1,147th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 290th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,101st | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 590th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 471st | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 1,115th | 1,356 |
Jenison's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Jenison with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Jenison?
16 of the 57 figures for Jenison on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Jenison are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.