MICHIGAN 281 / #2UPDATED September 9, 2026
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Population is above the 2020 estimate base by 1.2%. Median household income ranks 82nd among Michigan’s 281 cities. 2025 housing authorizations equal 4.0 units per 1,000 residents, ranking 9th among cities with a verified embedded permit row. Homeownership is 54.0%. The ACS poverty estimate is 16.9%.
Kent CountyWest Michigan#2 by 2025 population
CITY SNAPSHOT
The numbers that define Grand Rapids now.
Population uses Census Vintage 2025. Household and housing measures use the 2020–2024 ACS. Residential authorizations use the 2025 Building Permits Survey.
MICHIGAN 281 POSITION
See all rankings →Where Grand Rapids sits among its peers.
40th/ 281
Population growth1.2%
82nd/ 281
Household income$69,108
60th/ 281
Home value$244,500
193rd/ 281
Homeownership54.0%
148th/ 281
Lowest poverty16.9%
9th/ 281
Housing activity4.0 / 1K
281-city medians: household income $63,285 · home value $179,000 · homeownership 67.4% · poverty 13.0% · housing activity 0.9 units/1K.
HOUSING + BUILDING
Value, ownership and new supply.
Housing authorizations are permit activity—not completions. The value-to-income ratio is a simple context measure, not a home-affordability guarantee.
Median home value$244,500
Value ÷ household income3.54×
Homeownership54.0%
housing units authorized
Census BPS 2025 annual place file. Housing units are authorized by residential building permits; they are not completions.
144residential buildings
20202025
Population direction
+1.2% since 2020 estimate base. Latest completed Census estimate vintage.
LIVE CITY WIRE
What is changing in Grand Rapids right now?
Headlines link to the original publisher. The feed is refreshed automatically and is separate from Michigan Progress’s audited data layer.
MLive.com · Oct 1, 2026
↗Challenger takes on incumbent in Grand Rapids commission race
Brookings · Sep 22, 2026
↗Latino communities are shaping Michigan’s future
Live wire source: Google News RSS search across publishers. Michigan Progress does not reproduce article text and does not treat a headline as verified statistical data.
DEVELOPMENT TRACKER
Search current development coverage ↗Projects on the local file.
Under Construction
Grand River Revitalization
Grand Rapids has moved the Lower Reach Grand River restoration into construction with a $14.56 million contract to restore natural rapids, improve habitat and expand public access.
$14.56M contractGroundbreaking June 2026 · ~2 years
Under Construction
East Riverfront Park
A $19 million Grand Rapids riverfront project converting a former industrial site into 4.5 acres of public greenspace and trail access.
$19MOpening targeted 2026
Approved
848 Division Affordable Housing
A 46-unit affordable housing development in Grand Rapids received a 2026 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocation.
46 affordable unitsLIHTC award announced June 2026
Approved
Vision Senior Housing
A 49-unit affordable senior housing project in Grand Rapids received a 2026 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocation.
49 affordable senior unitsLIHTC award announced June 2026
Current development coverage
MLive.com · Oct 6, 2026
↗$787K consultant contract OK’d for implementation of new Ann Arbor land-use plan
Lansing State Journal · Oct 1, 2026
↗Developer Gary Granger eyes $400M investment in downtown Lansing
Crain's Grand Rapids Business · Sep 9, 2026
↗Grand Haven developers eye children’s museum, condos at riverfront site
LOCAL WATCH
Schools, safety and employers.
These topics are not forced into the 281-city statistical comparison when their reporting geography differs from Census city boundaries.
District coverage, live.
City limits and school districts are not assumed to match. Use current reporting while a verified district series is added.
Current school coverage ↗Agency data needs geography checks.
FBI UCR data is agency-based. Michigan Progress does not present an agency rate as a city rate until the match is verified.
Current safety coverage ↗Employer activity, live.
Expansion, hiring and investment news is linked from the current business feed instead of a stale “top employers” list.
Current business coverage ↗PROPERTY TAX WATCH
Own property in Grand Rapids?
Market value and taxable value are different in Michigan. Your actual bill depends on taxable value, local millages, exemptions and assessment history.
$244,500median owner-occupied value54.0%homeownership
Check Michigan property-tax options →
COMPARE LIKE WITH LIKE
Compare all 281 →Cities closest in population.
FAQ / AEO
Grand Rapids frequently asked questions
Direct answers based on the evidence and methodology used on this page.
Is Grand Rapids, Michigan growing?
The Census Bureau July 1, 2025 estimate is 201,183, a +1.2% change from the 2020 estimate base.
What is the median household income in Grand Rapids?
Median household income is $69,108 in the 2020–2024 ACS comparison vintage used by Michigan Progress.
What is the median home value in Grand Rapids?
Median owner-occupied home value is $244,500 in the 2020–2024 ACS comparison vintage.
How does Michigan Progress decide whether Grand Rapids is progressing?
The site compares standardized population, household and housing indicators, then keeps local development, schools, safety and news in separately labeled evidence layers so unlike geographies are not silently mixed.
SOURCES + METHOD
Read full methodology →Audit the page.
01
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Grand Rapids
2025 population estimate plus 2020–2024 ACS household income, housing value, homeownership and poverty measures.
02
Census Population Estimates — Cities & Towns, Vintage 2025
Latest completed Census vintage used for the 2020 estimate base, 2025 estimate and five-year population direction.
03
U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey
2025 annual place-level residential buildings and housing units authorized. Authorizations are not housing completions.