Grand Rapids, MI

Census Place

2024 Population

198,535

US Senator

Gary Peters

Democratic Party

US Senator

Elissa Slotkin

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

32.3

0.623% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

16.9%

8.98% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$69,108

5.47% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$244,500

Population & Diversity

Grand Rapids, MI is home to a population of 199k people, from which 92.8% are citizens.

As of 2024, 10.9% of Grand Rapids, MI residents were born outside of the country (21.6k people).

In 2024, there were 3.28 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (114k people) in Grand Rapids, MI than any other race or ethnicity. There were 34.8k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 14.6k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.8%

2024 Citizenship

92.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 92.8% of Grand Rapids, MI residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Grand Rapids, MI was 92.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Grand Rapids, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Grand Rapids, MI

White (Non-Hispanic)
114k ± 2.3k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
34.8k ± 2.22k
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
14.6k ± 1.52k

16.3%

Hispanic Population

32.4k people

16.3% of the people in Grand Rapids, MI are hispanic (32.4k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Grand Rapids, MI as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Michigan.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
83,098 ± 7,048 people
India
80,532 ± 6,939 people
Iraq
55,181 ± 5,751 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Michigan was Mexico, the natal country of 83,098 Michigan residents, followed by India with 80,532 and Iraq with 55,181.

Foreign-Born Population

10.9%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

21.6k people

11.1%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

21.9k people

As of 2024, 10.9% of Grand Rapids, MI residents (21.6k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Grand Rapids, MI was 11.1%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Grand Rapids, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,977 ± 374
Gulf War (2001-)
1,508 ± 327
Gulf War (1990s)
979 ± 283

Grand Rapids, MI has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.31 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Grand Rapids, MI.

Economy

The economy of Grand Rapids, MI employs 106k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Grand Rapids, MI were Manufacturing (17,186 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (16,686 people), and Retail Trade (11,367 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($109,306), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($104,146), and Utilities ($75,882).

Employment

Occupations

106k

2024 Value

± 2,749

1.75%

1 Year growth

± 3.58%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Grand Rapids, MI grew at a rate of 1.75%, from 104k employees to 106k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Grand Rapids, MI, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (10,744 people), Management Occupations (10,120 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (9,537 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Grand Rapids, MI.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Michigan (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

106k

2024 Value

± 2,749

1.75%

1 Year growth

± 3.58%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Grand Rapids, MI grew at a rate of 1.75%, from 104k employees to 106k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Grand Rapids, MI, are Manufacturing (17,186 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (16,686 people), and Retail Trade (11,367 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Grand Rapids, MI, though some of these residents may live in Grand Rapids, MI and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$51,233

Median earning men ± $1,256

$40,205

Median earning women ± $1,077

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($74,475), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($71,938), and Wholesale Trade ($68,714).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($61,557), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($60,169), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($49,521).

Education

The student population of Grand Rapids, MI in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 8,742 male students and 10,626 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Grand Rapids, MI are White (2,638 and 70.3%), Hispanic or Latino (417 and 11.1%), Black or African American (263 and 7.01%), and Asian (156 and 4.16%).

The largest universities in Grand Rapids, MI by number of degrees awarded are Grand Rapids Community College (2,109 and 54.1%), Calvin University (934 and 23.9%), and Cornerstone University (477 and 12.2%).

The most popular majors in Grand Rapids, MI are Liberal Arts & Sciences (714 and 18.3%), General Studies (231 and 5.92%), and Registered Nursing (161 and 4.13%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $39,350.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI, the percentage of applicants admitted was 76.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 18.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 19,368 (45.1% men and 54.9% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 19,368 students enrolled in Grand Rapids, MI, 45.1% men and 54.9% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 11,851 records, of which 54% were women and 46% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
708 degrees awarded
General Studies
229 degrees awarded
General Business
98 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Grand Rapids, MI was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 708 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Grand Rapids, MI according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Grand Rapids Community College
2,109 degrees awarded
Calvin University
934 degrees awarded
Cornerstone University
477 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Grand Rapids Community College with 2,109 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 1,710 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Grand Rapids, MI, which is 0.78 times less than the 2,191 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,638 degrees mean that there were 6.33 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 417 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($39,350) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($900) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,300) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Grand Rapids, MI was $244,500 in 2024, which is 0.735 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $225,500 to $244,500, a 8.43% increase. The homeownership rate in Grand Rapids, MI is 54%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Grand Rapids, MI have an average commute time of 19 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Grand Rapids, MI is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$244,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,433

$43,351

Median Property Taxes

±$1,554

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Grand Rapids, MI the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Grand Rapids, MI compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

54%

Homeownership

2024

66.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 54% of the housing units in Grand Rapids, MI were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 54.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Grand Rapids, MI compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$69,108

Median Household Income

± $1,869

80.2k

Number of Households

± 2,262

In 2024, the median household income of the 80.2k households in Grand Rapids, MI grew to $69,108 from the previous year's value of $65,526.

The following chart displays the households in Grand Rapids, MI distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Grand Rapids, MI is from Michigan.

0.46

2024 Wage GINI in Michigan

0.462

2023 Wage GINI in Michigan

In 2024, the income inequality in Michigan was 0.46 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.474% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Michigan was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Michigan in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Michigan across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (68.7%)
Worked At Home (13.9%)
Carpooled (8.1%)

In 2024, 68.7% of workers in Grand Rapids, MI drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (13.9%) and those who carpooled to work (8.1%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

19 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Grand Rapids, MI have a shorter commute time (19 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.99% of the workforce in Grand Rapids, MI have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Grand Rapids, MI compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Grand Rapids, MI distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Grand Rapids, MI have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

16.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Grand Rapids, MI (32.5k out of 192k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Males 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Grand Rapids, MI is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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