The Town FilesGrand Rapids, Wisconsin
Town in Wood County · population 7,576 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,500
- Household income
- $96,658
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 50.5
Grand Rapids is a town of 7,576 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $223,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 83% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Grand Rapids ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Grand Rapids is worth $223,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $96,658, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $861 a month. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Rapids | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $861 | $951 |
| Median household income | $96,658 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Grand Rapids
| People | Grand Rapids | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Grand Rapids
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 16, 1992 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on June 7, 2007.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Grand Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Grand Rapids
- Lake Wazeecha, WI0.6 mi · 3,107 people · home $218,800
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI3.7 mi · 18,877 people · home $131,900
- Saratoga, WI6.9 mi · 5,060 people · home $175,600
- Plover, WI12.1 mi · 13,519 people · home $269,800
- Rome, WI12.6 mi · 3,025 people · home $293,500
- Stevens Point, WI14.2 mi · 25,666 people · home $195,400
- Hull, WI16.0 mi · 5,287 people · home $283,500
- Stockton, WI18.2 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
Grand Rapids questions
Is Grand Rapids, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Rapids scores better for retirees than 65% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 43%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in Grand Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Rapids is valued at $223,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,658, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $861 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Rapids?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.8 inches of snow.
Does Grand Rapids get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 16, 1992. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)