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Living in
Allendale.
Allendale is an unincorporated community in Ottawa County, MI. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Allendale
If you're considering Allendale, know upfront that this is fundamentally a college town—Grand Valley State University dominates the community in terms of population, activity, and character. That said, it's not just a transient student population; there are families, working professionals, and established residents here too. Your commute to Grand Rapids jobs takes roughly 20 minutes via the major routes, making it realistic to work in the city while living here.
Allendale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.8%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Allendale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Allendale, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (17.0%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.3%
of residents
65 and Older
5.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.7%
of households
Married Couples
34.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MI
Rent, home values, and income in Allendale
In Allendale, home values are 33% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
37.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,271
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $416,798 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Allendale
Unemployment in Ottawa County, which includes Allendale, is 1 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Allendale: Ottawa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ottawa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Allendale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.6 min avg
How Allendale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Allendale, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Muskegon County Airport (MKG)
Regional airport · few flights6,940 passengers boarded in 2025
- 98 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 120 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, which covers Allendale, runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
257.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
649.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Ottawa County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ottawa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ottawa County, which includes Allendale, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170,000 |
| 2023 | 3 | Winter Storm | $310,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $55,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $312,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.2M |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.1M |
| 2018 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $180,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ottawa County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ottawa County, which includes Allendale, is typically good — 260 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
260
per year
Moderate Days
97
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Ottawa County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Allendale has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.9"
Annual Snowfall
74.9"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
146
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 2.84" |
| Feb | 33°F | 20°F | 2.00" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 2.27" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 3.71" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 76°F | 57°F | 3.54" |
| Jul | 80°F | 62°F | 3.62" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.13" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 3.45" |
| Oct | 60°F | 43°F | 3.75" |
| Nov | 47°F | 33°F | 3.08" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.44" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Allendale
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Allendale's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.7 mi away · Zeeland
University of Michigan Health - West
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Wyoming
Spectrum Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.5 mi away · Grand Rapids
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Allendale
Allendale's student/teacher ratio is 17.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 42.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Allendale
Public · 4-year · 18,854 students · in-state tuition $15,872 · 67% graduate · median earnings $60,120 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Grand Rapids Community College
14.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 10,698 students · in-state tuition $4,270 · 24% graduate · median earnings $43,741 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,288 students · in-state tuition $43,960 · 80% graduate · median earnings $65,961 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 716 students · in-state tuition $17,565 · 32% graduate · median earnings $41,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Allendale
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Allendale
Allendale Township Library
6175 Library Lane, Allendale
Cities Near Allendale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Allendale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Allendale FAQ
Is Allendale, Michigan affordable?⌄
Allendale's median rent is $1,111/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,150/year. Median home value is $307,900.
Is Allendale, Michigan safe?⌄
Allendale is policed by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 257 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 649 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Allendale, Michigan?⌄
Ottawa County, which includes Allendale, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Allendale, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Allendale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,111/month and median household income is $70,150/year. The median home value is $307,900. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Allendale, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Allendale is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from