Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Grand Rapids, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

198,535

Median Agei

32.3

Race & Ethnicityi

White

57.5%114,097

Black

17.5%34,779

Hispanic/Latino

16.3%32,415

Two or More

5%9,966

Asian

2.8%5,547

Other

0.6%1,198

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%510

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%23

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.4%4,436

High School Diploma

18.2%23,674

Some College (<1 yr)

6.6%8,550

Some College (1+ yr)

12.4%16,161

Associate's Degree

7.3%9,555

Bachelor's Degree

27.3%35,540

Master's Degree

10.5%13,671

Professional Degree

2%2,658

Doctorate

1.8%2,372

HS or Higher

89.5%

BA or Higher

41.6%

Graduate+

14.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$244,500

Median Renti

$1,266

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54%43,351

Renter-Occupied

46%36,871

Total Units

84,894

Homeownership

54%

Vacancy Rate

5.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.6%1,113

$50K–$100K

3.5%1,498

$100K–$150K

7.2%3,109

$150K–$200K

17.1%7,434

$200K–$300K

38.9%16,873

$300K–$500K

26.1%11,314

$500K–$1M

4.2%1,819

$1M+

0.4%191

Rent Distribution

Under $500

3,164

$500–$750

1,523

$750–$1,000

6,010

$1,000–$1,250

6,948

$1,250–$1,500

6,080

$1,500–$2,000

8,342

$2,000+

3,996

Year Built

2020 or later

0.6%487

2010–2019

5.3%4,487

2000–2009

5.2%4,398

1990–1999

6.3%5,352

1980–1989

7%5,933

1970–1979

7.5%6,329

1960–1969

8.7%7,424

1950–1959

13.2%11,247

1940–1949

8.7%7,400

1939 or earlier

37.5%31,837

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

82.5%66,189

Electricity

15.3%12,234

Bottled/LP Gas

1.5%1,223

No Fuel

0.3%272

Other

0.3%253

Fuel Oil

0%27

Wood

0%24

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$69,108

Mean Household Incomei

$86,109

Per Capita Incomei

$35,921

Poverty Ratei

16.4%

Unemploymenti

5.2%

Labor Forcei

111,815

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.8%4,666

$10K–$15K

5.1%4,086

$15K–$20K

3.5%2,820

$20K–$25K

3.4%2,746

$25K–$30K

3.3%2,616

$30K–$35K

3.5%2,771

$35K–$40K

3.4%2,746

$40K–$45K

4.1%3,305

$45K–$50K

3.6%2,925

$50K–$60K

6.9%5,506

$60K–$75K

11.2%8,964

$75K–$100K

14.2%11,412

$100K–$125K

10.5%8,450

$125K–$150K

7.8%6,241

$150K–$200K

7.8%6,243

$200K+

5.9%4,725

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

7,267

Residentsi

11,761

Avg. Tenant Renti

$354/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

28 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing188 homes84% occupied$308/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers1,091 homes89% occupied$330/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Mod Rehab86 homes106% occupied$173/mo rent

Rehabilitated buildings with project-based rental assistance

Project Based Section 81,844 homes91% occupied$379/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC82 homes91% occupied$403/mo rent

811/PRAC23 homes97% occupied$425/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $69,108/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $21K/yr

84%

Very low income$21K–$35K/yr

13.6%

Low income$35K–$55K/yr

2.4%

Who Receives This Housing

61.6% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

57.8% of subsidized households are minority

33.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

48.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

21,94811.1%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

6,124

Guatemala

2,821

China

890

Korea

849

India

626

Canada

373

United Kingdom

232

Germany

204

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

104,470

Avg. Commutei

19 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

105,983

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,308(4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.8%Insured

7.2%Uninsured

Grand Rapids, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026