The Town FilesGrand Haven, Michigan
City in Ottawa County · population 11,011 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,100
- Household income
- $60,669
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 46.8
Grand Haven is a city of 11,011 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $250,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, better transit than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Grand Haven ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Grand Haven is worth $250,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $60,669, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $939 a month. 68.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Haven | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $939 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,669 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Grand Haven
| People | Grand Haven | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Grand Haven
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Haven since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 4, 1965 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 10, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 11, 2001.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Grand Haven itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Grand Haven
9 public schools with 2,981 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Middle School | 7-8 | 749 | 16.3 |
| White Pines Intermediate School | 5-8 | 738 | 14.8 |
| Griffin Elementary School | PK-4 | 323 | 15.4 |
| Peach Plains School | PK-4 | 319 | 13.9 |
| Rosy Mound School | PK-4 | 268 | 15.8 |
| Mary A White School | PK-4 | 261 | 13.1 |
| Ferry School | PK-4 | 227 | 11.9 |
| Central High School | 9-12 | 91 | 13.0 |
| Career Development School | 9-12 | 5 | — |
Towns near Grand Haven
- Spring Lake, MI1.2 mi · 15,296 people · home $359,200
- Ferrysburg, MI2.3 mi · 2,952 people · home $239,900
- Grand Haven, MI4.2 mi · 18,004 people · home $365,800
- Crockery, MI7.0 mi · 4,572 people · home $306,000
- Fruitport, MI7.8 mi · 14,575 people · home $226,800
- Robinson, MI7.9 mi · 6,382 people · home $313,100
- Norton Shores, MI8.0 mi · 25,030 people · home $234,800
- Muskegon Heights, MI10.2 mi · 9,917 people · home $68,000
Grand Haven questions
Is Grand Haven, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Haven scores better for retirees than 76% of Michigan towns and quieter than 13%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Grand Haven?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Haven is valued at $250,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,669, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $939 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Haven?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 87.2 inches of snow.
Does Grand Haven get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Haven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 4, 1965. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)