Median Age
28 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 32% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
12%
Big Rapids
Big Rapids, MI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$748
Population
8,481
Renter Mix
63% Rent
A classic college town with direct access to western Michigan’s lush natural beauty
College
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Affordable
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Nature
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Outdoors
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Hockey
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Best known as the home of Ferris State University, Big Rapids is a small city on the banks of the Muskegon River in west-central Michigan. The university’s student population outnumbers the city’s permanent residents, giving the community a distinctive college town atmosphere – the downtown area around the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Maple Street is major walking district offering up a wide selection of specialty shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and nightlife hotspots. Catch a movie at AMC Classic Big Rapids 4, then walk up the street for dinner and a pint at Raven Brewing & BBQ.
The local rental market caters to the student population with abundant budget-friendly apartments, condos, and houses all over town. The Ferris State campus on the south side of town is a major focal point for the community, especially when the Bulldogs are playing on home ice. The city is perched right on the edge of the massive Huron-Manistee National Forests, putting you in the ideal position to take advantage of the region’s unspoiled natural landscape.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$29,910
Average: $50,150
Education
2,833
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
3,954
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Big Rapids has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
63%
Non-Renters
37%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
25%
Other Education
75%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Big Rapids, MI is $748 for one bedroom, and $922 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in Big Rapids has increased by 0.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$748/month
524 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Big Rapids, MI is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
421 Students
Public
Grades K-8
646 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
417 Students
Public
Grades K-12
152 Students
Crossroads Charter Academy (Pk-6)
Public
Grades K-5
160 Students
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)
Public
Grades 6-12
150 Students
Public
Grades K-8
646 Students
Public
Grades K-12
152 Students
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center
Public
Grades PK-12
100 Students
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)
Public
Grades 6-12
150 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
714 Students
Public
Grades K-12
152 Students
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center
Public
Grades PK-12
100 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Card Wildlife Education Center
Military Bases
Colleges
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.