Median Age
34 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 19% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
14%
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,362
Population
192,248
Renter Mix
47% Rent
Michigan’s second-largest city is an artistic haven.
Artistic
•
Progressive
•
Affordable
•
Creative
•
The second largest city in Michigan, Grand Rapids rests on the Grand River, about 30 miles east of Lake Michigan. Formerly known as the Furniture City, Grand Rapids is now nicknamed the River City as well as Beer City USA for its riverside locale and proximity to 40 craft breweries. Grand Rapids is also the hometown of former United States President Gerald Ford. Fans of the 38th president can learn more about his life and impact on American history at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Notable as an artistic haven, Grand Rapids hosts the annual ArtPrize competition, a 19-day affair drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city and featuring artwork all throughout Downtown Grand Rapids. Frederik Meijer Gardens exhibits an expansive variety of sculptures and gardens both indoors and outdoors. Meyer May House is revered as one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpieces.
Located within an hour’s drive of Kalamazoo and Lansing, Grand Rapids is convenient to major highways and Gerald R. Ford International Airport, making for simple travels and commutes.
Explore the City
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum rests on the Grand River across from downtown.
Grand Rapids has multiple gorgeous Victorian style churches throughout the city.
Many of the neighborhoods around downtown Grand Rapids are historical and beautiful.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$60,224
Average: $77,329
Education
61,828
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
100,636
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Grand Rapids has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
47%
Non-Renters
53%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
27%
Other Education
73%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,150 for a studio, $1,369 for one bedroom, $1,655 for two bedrooms, and $2,246 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Grand Rapids has increased by 1.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,369/month
674 Sq Ft
House
$2,183/month
1,114 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,772/month
754 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,929/month
783 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI is 3.7% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Grand Rapids is 9.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,150 - $2,246. You can expect to pay 1.7% less for groceries, 5.7% less for utilities, and 1.8% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Grand Rapids, MI is for everyday living.
Very Walkable
Walkability
80
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
50
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
60
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Knapp Forest Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
572 Students
Public
Grades K-5
478 Students
Meadow Brook Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
463 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
459 Students
Public
Grades K-5
451 Students
East Grand Rapids Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
652 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
546 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
908 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
376 Students
Public
Grades K-8
59 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,134 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,053 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
914 Students
West Michigan Aviation Academy
Public
Grades 9-12
605 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,092 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
- Grand Rapids Children's Museum
- Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
- Grand Rapids Public Museum
- Highland Park
- John Ball Zoo
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Gerald R Ford International
Top Apartments in Grand Rapids
Houses for Rent in Grand Rapids
Property Management Companies in Grand Rapids, MI
KMG Prestige
-
68
Communities
-
7,375
Units
-
45
Cities
12 Communities in Grand Rapids
Eenhoorn, LLC
-
34
Communities
-
5,776
Units
-
16
Cities
11 Communities in Grand Rapids
Land & Company
-
15
Communities
-
5,826
Units
-
9
Cities
11 Communities in Grand Rapids
Monarch Investment and Management Group
-
320
Communities
-
78,002
Units
-
146
Cities
10 Communities in Grand Rapids
DTN Management
-
41
Communities
-
6,398
Units
-
21
Cities
10 Communities in Grand Rapids
Pure Real Estate
-
12
Communities
-
672
Units
-
5
Cities
10 Communities in Grand Rapids
Search Nearby Rentals
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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.