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Economy, jobs and prices in Grand Rapids, Michigan: official figures

The median household income in Grand Rapids was $69,108 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 272nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Michigan median $72,875.

Median household income
$69,108
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
5.2%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
19.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,266
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$244,500
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
54.0%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
90.4%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Grand Rapids?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Grand Rapids averaged $35,921 a year in 2020-2024, 275th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Michigan: $40,735).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Grand Rapids?

Grand Rapids' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.432 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 289th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

5.2% of the civilian labor force in Grand Rapids was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (5,764 people), 395th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Michigan's 5.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Grand Rapids are working?

69.3% of Grand Rapids' 161,356 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 188th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Grand Rapids have jobs?

105,983 residents of Grand Rapids held civilian jobs, 65.7% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 68 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Grand Rapids?

The largest industry group for working residents of Grand Rapids was education, health care and social assistance (25.0% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (16.2%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (11.9%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Grand Rapids work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 16.2% of working residents of Grand Rapids, 71st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.9% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Commuters in Grand Rapids took 19.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 111th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 2.9% travelled an hour or more and 34.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Grand Rapids get to work?

13.9% of workers living in Grand Rapids worked from home in 2020-2024, 392nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 68.7% drove to work alone, 8.1% carpooled, 3.0% used public transport and 4.2% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Grand Rapids was $1,266 a month in 2020-2024, 239th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Michigan: $1,129).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Grand Rapids?

Owner-occupied homes in Grand Rapids had a median value of $244,500 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 187th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Michigan: $231,600).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Grand Rapids?

The median home value in Grand Rapids was 3.5 times the median household income, 210th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Grand Rapids, Michigan own their home?

54.0% of the 80,222 occupied homes in Grand Rapids were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 36,871 were rented, 301st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Michigan: 73.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Grand Rapids have broadband?

90.4% of households in Grand Rapids had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 228th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Michigan: 90.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Grand Rapids have no internet?

6.8% of households in Grand Rapids (5,487) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 208th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 11.2% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Grand Rapids compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 552 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
549Clarksville$69,303
550Parma$69,295
551Kansas City$69,166
552Grand Rapids$69,108
553Sioux City$68,906
554Bethlehem$68,879
555Duluth$68,807
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 549 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
546North Charleston$36,019
547Green Bay$35,940
548Taylorsville$35,936
549Grand Rapids$35,921
550Lakeland$35,902
551Tamarac$35,893
552Chicopee$35,887
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 535 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
532Lancaster0.433
533Clovis0.433
534Federal Way0.433
535Grand Rapids0.432
536Meriden0.432
537Whittier0.432
538Downey0.432
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 429 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
426Davie5.2%
427Mission Viejo5.2%
428Miami5.2%
429Grand Rapids5.2%
430Orlando5.2%
431Skokie5.2%
432San Ramon5.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 188 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
185Sandy69.4%
186Hoffman Estates69.3%
187Lakewood69.3%
188Grand Rapids69.3%
189Omaha69.3%
190San Ramon69.3%
191Durham69.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 713 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
710Kingsport19.1
711Tallahassee19.1
712Roanoke19.0
713Grand Rapids19.0
714Bentonville19.0
715Greenville19.0
716Lansing18.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 392 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
389Napa14.0%
390Richmond14.0%
391New Haven13.9%
392Grand Rapids13.9%
393Corona13.9%
394Hayward13.9%
395Escondido13.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 182 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
179Stonecrest3.1%
180Lansing3.1%
181West Haven3.0%
182Grand Rapids3.0%
183Bowie3.0%
184Montebello2.9%
185Miami Gardens2.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 71 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
68Southfield16.5%
69St. Clair Shores16.4%
70Cleveland16.4%
71Grand Rapids16.2%
72Fremont16.2%
73Twin Falls16.2%
74Detroit16.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 247 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
244Norwalk25.0%
245Warwick25.0%
246Barnstable Town25.0%
247Grand Rapids25.0%
248Tacoma25.0%
249Norfolk25.0%
250Omaha24.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 585 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
582Joliet$1,276
583Rogers$1,270
584Hartford$1,269
585Grand Rapids$1,266
586Caldwell$1,264
587Pittsburgh$1,261
588Kentwood$1,260
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 637 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
634Omaha$245,500
635Springfield$245,000
636Greensboro$244,800
637Grand Rapids$244,500
638Columbus$244,200
639Stonecrest$243,500
640Sherman$243,500
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 611 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
608Garland3.5x
609Vineland3.5x
610Allen3.5x
611Grand Rapids3.5x
612Killeen3.5x
613Troy3.5x
614Hampton3.5x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 523 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
520Erie54.1%
521Fort Lauderdale54.1%
522Medford54.1%
523Grand Rapids54.0%
524Middletown54.0%
525Pomona54.0%
526Mobile54.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 596 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
593Greenville90.4%
594Melbourne90.4%
595Lake Havasu City90.4%
596Grand Rapids90.4%
597Beaumont90.4%
598Green Bay90.4%
599Montgomery90.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Grand Rapids ranks 208 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
205Springfield6.9%
206Bellflower6.9%
207Warren6.8%
208Grand Rapids6.8%
209Savannah6.8%
210Waxahachie6.8%
211Lakewood6.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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