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City

Grand Rapids

#43 in Best Cities to Buy a House in America
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • City in Michigan
  • 361 reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    C+
  2. Crime & Safety
    C
  3. Housing
    B
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    B+
  6. Diversity
    A
  7. Jobs
    B
  8. Weather
    C-
  9. Cost of Living
    B+
  10. Health & Fitness
    B
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    A
View Full Report Card
Grand Rapids is a city in Michigan with a population of 195,355. Grand Rapids is in Kent County and is one of the best places to live in Michigan. Living in Grand Rapids offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Grand Rapids there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Grand Rapids and residents tend to have moderate political views.
About Grand Rapids...
Population
195,355

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$121,800
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$854
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    46%
  • Own
    54%
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Grand Rapids Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Grand Rapids Neighborhood Map

  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      456.9
      282.7
    • Murder
      6.1
      6.1
    • Rape
      71.3
      40.7
    • Robbery
      177.4
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      385.6
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,504
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      183.5
      284
    Home Security Options for Grand Rapids
    Learn More
    • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
    • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      14%
    • 10-17 years
      10%
    • 18-24 years
      14%
    • 25-34 years
      19%
    • 35-44 years
      11%
    • 45-54 years
      10%
    • 55-64 years
      11%
    • 65+ years
      11%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      12%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      22%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      29%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      22%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      14%
      13%

    Working in Grand Rapids

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $44,369
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Grand Rapids
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    Grand Rapids Reviews

    361 reviews
    All Categories
    Always something to do, very safe; I love it here! There are so many coffee shops and restaurants to go to during the day, the libraries are amazing and always holding events, there are community events all the time, big-name concerts at VanAndel, sports events, smaller concerts at little coffee shop/smaller venue locations, bars and dancing at night, safe to walk around, great schools, close enough to Lake Michigan (only about a 40 minute drive). Always something to do and it's a great environment for raising a family.
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    I love being in Grand Rapids! It's a wonderful city that's constantly growing. The current growth includes adding rowing lanes to the river and providing more walking and biking trails nearby. There's plenty of breweries, each specializing in their own kind of beer, mostly brewed in-house, and so many food options to choose from. You won't go unsatisfied in this city, no matter your lifestyle or diet!
    I was born in Grand Rapids in Spectrum Health hospital. I think Grand Rapids is a beautiful city with many opportunities to come. I graduated from the Grand Rapids Public schools. Throughout all the time I have lived here, it is evident that Grand Rapids had developed tremendously! However, there are still some problems that must be solved, one, for example, the Heart side community