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Suburb
Grand Rapids

Rockford

#4 in Best Places to Raise a Family in Grand Rapids Area
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • Suburb of Grand Rapids, MI
  • 48 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A-
  2. Crime & Safety
    B
  3. Housing
    A-
  4. Nightlife
    C
  5. Good for Families
    A+
  6. Diversity
    B-
  7. Jobs
    A-
  8. Weather
    C-
  9. Cost of Living
    B+
  10. Health & Fitness
    B
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    B-
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Rockford is a suburb of Grand Rapids with a population of 6,132. Rockford is in Kent County and is one of the best places to live in Michigan. Living in Rockford offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Rockford there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Rockford and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Rockford are highly rated.
About Rockford...
Population
6,132

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$165,600
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$836
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    27%
  • Own
    73%
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Rockford Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    79
    283
  • Murder
    0
    6
  • Rape
    79
    41
  • Robbery
    16
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    95
    500
  • Theft
    855
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    16
    284
Home Security Options for Rockford
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
B-
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    16%
  • 10-17 years
    12%
  • 18-24 years
    9%
  • 25-34 years
    15%
  • 35-44 years
    16%
  • 45-54 years
    11%
  • 55-64 years
    9%
  • 65+ years
    11%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    15%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    30%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    30%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    19%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    6%
    13%

Working in Rockford

Jobs
A-
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$61,097
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Rockford
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Rockford Reviews

48 reviews
All Categories
Great schools, friendly people, beautiful downtown area and lots of family activities! I love the fall time in downtown Rockford. There is live music on the weekends, farmer markets, and activities for all ages.
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Great place to live and grow up in. The community is small and friendly. The only issue I have with the town is the city hall counsel. I believe that they care more about themselves then the people that live in the town. Other then that it is a great place to raise kids, with a great downtown area filled with many shops, restaurants, and unique experiences. They put on holiday events every year and make you feel welcome to come and walk downtown.
Overall, Rockford is great. It's a sleepy town that's close enough to Grand Rapids to get some big-city experiences, but small enough to keep its small-town feel.
There are some really unique boutiques and restaurants in the downtown area and it is an absolutely beautiful town to walk in.

That being said, Rockford is very much lacking in the diversity department. The overwhelming majority of the population is white and conservative. I was frustrated with the lack of diversity in the town and the schools. There is no public transportation: it's a commuter town.

Honestly though, Rockford is a lovely town that I think really embodies Michigan.