City · Michigan
Walker, Michigan
Walker, city, in Kent County, Michigan. Walker had 25,881 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 25,132 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 25,386 (±51). GEOID 2682960.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
25,881
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 25,132 · ACS 2020-2024: 25,386 ±51
Median household income
$76,360
±$4,683 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$295,200
±$13,783 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,202
±$40 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Walker and what county is it in?
Walker is a city in Kent County, Michigan. It covers 24.6 square miles of land, 1,023 residents per square mile in 2020.
Walker is in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Walker, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 25,881 people lived in Walker on July 1, 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 25,132 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 25,386 (±51).
| Measure | Walker | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 25,386 ±51 | 663,150 | +570 |
| Households | 10,595 ±399 | 256,648 | +730 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.09 | 2.54 | −0.12 |
| Housing units | 10,861 ±429 | 269,136 | +608 |
Walker's population since 2000
From 21,842 in 2000 to 25,881 in 2025: up 18.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Walker as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Walker?
The median resident of Walker is 36.9 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.2%. 6.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Walker | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 ±2.1 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4% ±2.1 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.3% ±2.7 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Male | 51.3% ±1.6 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.2% ±2.0 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.8% ±3.1 pts | 70.4% | −5.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.2 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±1.6 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.9% ±1.9 pts | 8.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.4% ±2.3 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.0% ±2.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 11.8% ±1.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.6% ±0.8 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.9% ±1.3 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.6% ±4.1 pts | 40.8% | +7.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.6% ±2.1 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.4% ±1.9 pts | 87.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
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 Walker earn?
Half of Walker's 10,595 households earn less than $76,360 a year (±$4,683), against $82,631 in Kent County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $80,204 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Walker | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,360 ±$4,683 | $82,631 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,315 ±$6,778 | $109,612 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,951 ±$2,676 | $42,992 | +$3,295 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.6% ±2.1 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.2% ±5.3 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±1.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±1.6 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.8% ±2.6 pts | 92.2% | – |
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 Walker?
Owners occupy 65.2% of Walker's occupied homes and renters 34.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $295,200 by its owner (±$13,783). The median renter pays $1,202 a month including utilities, and 28.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Walker | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $295,200 ±$13,783 | $289,900 | +$80,198 |
| Median gross rent | $1,202 ±$40 | $1,243 | +$156 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.2% ±6.4 pts | 39.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,454 ±$51 | $1,603 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.2% ±3.2 pts | 70.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.8% ±3.2 pts | 29.7% | – |
| Housing units | 10,861 ±429 | 269,136 | +608 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±3.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 58.5% ±3.4 pts | 64.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.1% ±1.0 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.3% ±1.7 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.3% ±1.2 pts | 6.2% | – |
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 many new homes is Walker building?
Builders took permits for 53 new housing units in Walker in 2025 (51 in single-family houses), 2.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Walker work and get to work?
77.4% of Walker's workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.9%.
| Measure | Walker | Kent County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.8% ±2.9 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±1.0 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.4% ±3.0 pts | 73.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.3% ±2.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.0% ±2.1 pts | 14.3% | +6.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.2 min ±1.6 | 21.0 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 Walker?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Walker (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $69,530 (Tract 115.02) to $82,711 (Tract 116.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 115.02Kent County | 5,824 | $69,530 |
| Tract 117.01Kent County | 5,452 | $75,632 |
| Tract 116.01Kent County | 4,411 | $78,199 |
| Tract 117.02Kent County | 4,387 | $80,458 |
| Tract 116.02Kent County | 3,421 | $82,711 |
| Tract 115.01Kent County | 1,891 | $75,754 |
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 Walker) · Census block assignment files
How does Walker compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Walker is the 1,552nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 45th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Walker ranks 552nd of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 45th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 260th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 327th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 552nd | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 458th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 246th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 256th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 844th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 219th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,141st | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,195th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 577th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 1,108th | 1,356 |
Walker's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Walker 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 Walker?
8 of the 57 figures for Walker 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 Walker 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' public schools in Walker.