The Town FilesGrand Rapids, Michigan
City in Kent County · population 198,917 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,500
- Household income
- $69,108
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 32.3
Grand Rapids is a city of 198,917 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $244,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, better transit than 99% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 98% 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 $244,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $69,108, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,266 a month. 54.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,266 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,108 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Grand Rapids
| People | Grand Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 23 deaths and 514 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 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 5.2%.
Public schools in Grand Rapids
103 public schools with 37,363 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kentwood High School | 10-12 | 2,087 | 19.7 |
| Union High School | 9-12 | 939 | 18.1 |
| City MiddleHigh | 7-12 | 927 | 22.1 |
| Kenowa Hills High School | 9-12 | 886 | 17.4 |
| East Grand Rapids High School | 9-12 | 874 | 18.6 |
| Pinewood Middle School | 6-8 | 831 | 18.9 |
| Excel Charter Academy (charter) | K-12 | 783 | 19.6 |
| Walker Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 718 | 20.5 |
| East Kentwood Freshman Campus | 9-9 | 718 | 18.4 |
| Discovery Elementary | K-5 | 700 | 18.4 |
| Crestwood Middle School | 6-8 | 678 | 16.1 |
| West MI Academy of Environmental Science (charter) | PK-12 | 669 | 12.9 |
Towns near Grand Rapids
- East Grand Rapids, MI2.7 mi · 11,371 people · home $521,300
- Grand Rapids, MI4.4 mi · 18,905 people · home $426,600
- Wyoming, MI5.5 mi · 76,501 people · home $225,200
- Walker, MI5.7 mi · 25,132 people · home $295,200
- Comstock Park, MI5.8 mi · 10,500 people · home $235,300
- Northview, MI6.0 mi · 15,301 people · home $289,300
- Kentwood, MI6.2 mi · 54,304 people · home $268,200
- Grandville, MI6.4 mi · 16,083 people · home $271,300
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 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.3).
How much does a house cost in Grand Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Rapids is valued at $244,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,108, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,266 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?
24 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)