Avg Rent
$1,383
Population
192,248
Renter Mix
47% Rent
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.
The Grand River provides all sorts of activities for locals from fishing to kayaking.
The Grand River is lined with dozens of beautiful green parks and art installations.
Visitors and locals of Grand Rapids know to head to the Blue Bridge for gorgeous views.
The Medical Mile is a stretch of medical buildings and hospitals in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum rests on the Grand River across from downtown.
The exciting John Ball Zoo is only minutes from downtown Grand Rapids.
Median Household Income
$60,224
Average: $77,329
Education
61,828
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
100,636
Workers Employed
Median Age
34 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 19% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
14%
Housing Distribution
Grand Rapids has more homeowners than renters.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of July 2026, the average apartment rent in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,173 for a studio, $1,385 for one bedroom, $1,664 for two bedrooms, and $2,244 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Grand Rapids has increased by 2.7% in the past year.
The cost of living in Grand Rapids, MI is 3.3% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Grand Rapids is 9.5% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,173 - $2,244. You can expect to pay 0.9% less for groceries, 5.4% less for utilities, and 3.5% less for transportation.
Compare Cities
Best Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, MI for Renters
Don’t know where to start your Grand Rapids rental search? Here are five Grand Rapids neighborhoods perfect for renters.
Fast Money-Saving Tricks to Save for a Security Deposit
Build your security deposit fund fast with these money-saving hacks.
Non-Monetary Factors to Consider When Renting or Buying a Home
Rent vs. buy isn’t just about money. Lifestyle, flexibility, and emotional ties matter too.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Grand Rapids, MI is for everyday living.
Very Walkable
Walkability
Some Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
Knapp Forest Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
556 Students
Public
Grades K-5
537 Students
Public
Grades K-5
461 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
375 Students
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Public
Grades K-5
292 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
533 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
970 Students
East Grand Rapids Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
728 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
482 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
394 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,072 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
998 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
970 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
887 Students
Grand River Preparatory High School
Public
Grades 9-12
625 Students
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.
† 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 June 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.
