Thinking about moving to Grand Rapids?
You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 8,405 people have moved to Grand Rapids, an increase of 4.5%. New residents are attracted to Grand Rapids’s beautiful scenery, love of beer and coffee, and eco-friendliness.
Living
Grand Rapids is home to 196,445 Grand Rapidians. With an area of 44.4 square miles, Grand Rapids has a population density of 4,424 persons per square mile, which makes it more dense than many other cities of comparable size.
The Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 1,047,099 people, of which Grand Rapids proper’s population makes up 19%.
Housing
One of Grand Rapids’s greatest strengths is its relatively affordable housing market. The median home value in Grand Rapids is $132,600, -34% below the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Grand Rapids is $101. Over the past 5 years, home values in Grand Rapids have increased by 11%.
Renters in Grand Rapids will also have an easy time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Grand Rapids is $1,237 per month, which is 13% lower than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Grand Rapids have increased by 5.5%.
Economy
Grand Rapids’s economy is on fire. The Grand Rapids metro area’s GDP grew by 36% between 2011 and 2016, from $43.0 billion in 2011 to $58.4 billion in 2016, a total increase of $15.4 billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $55,835. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Grand Rapids is $53,780, 9% lower than the national median. Grand Rapids’s unemployment rate is 3.2%.
