The Town FilesGrand Rapids, Michigan
Charter township in Kent County · population 18,905 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $426,600
- Household income
- $123,246
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.6
Grand Rapids is a charter township of 18,905 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $426,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Michigan towns, better transit than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Grand Rapids 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 Rapids is worth $426,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $123,246, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,839 a month. 85.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $426,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,839 | $955 |
| Median household income | $123,246 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Grand Rapids
| People | Grand Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 29.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Grand Rapids
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 312 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Grand Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Grand Rapids
29 public schools with 11,047 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern High School | 9-12 | 1,109 | 16.1 |
| Northview High School | 9-12 | 1,060 | 19.6 |
| Central High School | 9-12 | 1,033 | 19.5 |
| West Michigan Aviation Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 608 | 16.0 |
| Knapp Forest Elementary School | PK-5 | 557 | 18.6 |
| Northern Hills Middle School | 7-8 | 534 | 19.1 |
| Ridge Park Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 507 | 15.8 |
| Northern Trails 56 School | 5-6 | 499 | 17.8 |
| Pine Ridge Elementary School | PK-4 | 475 | 19.0 |
| Crossroads Middle School | 7-8 | 453 | 17.4 |
| Meadow Brook Elementary School | K-4 | 445 | 13.9 |
| Orchard View Elementary School | K-5 | 436 | 15.6 |
Towns near Grand Rapids
- East Grand Rapids, MI3.4 mi · 11,371 people · home $521,300
- Northview, MI3.5 mi · 15,301 people · home $289,300
- Grand Rapids, MI4.4 mi · 198,917 people · home $244,500
- Ada, MI4.8 mi · 14,388 people · home $544,700
- Forest Hills, MI5.0 mi · 28,573 people · home $498,500
- Plainfield, MI5.9 mi · 33,535 people · home $326,900
- Comstock Park, MI6.1 mi · 10,500 people · home $235,300
- Cannon, MI7.3 mi · 14,379 people · home $460,700
Grand Rapids questions
Is Grand Rapids, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Rapids scores better for retirees than 45% of Michigan towns and quieter than 11%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Grand Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Rapids is valued at $426,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $123,246, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,839 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Rapids?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 74.9 inches of snow.
Does Grand Rapids get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)