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Living in
East Grand Rapids.
About
Life in East Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids is a community of 11,394 people in Michigan. The median household income is $166,610, median rent runs about $1,845 per month, and median home values are around $521,300. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
East Grand Rapids at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Foreign-Born
4.7%
Broadband Internet
97.7%
of households
Population Growth
+2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.7% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in East Grand Rapids: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In East Grand Rapids, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (15.3%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
33.2%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
50.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
12.5%
of households
Married Couples
75.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.01
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 65% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in East Grand Rapids
In East Grand Rapids, rent runs 65% above the MI average, and home values are 125% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
26.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
3.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,474
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
93.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $674,065 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below MI average
Unemployment in East Grand Rapids
Unemployment in Kent County, which includes East Grand Rapids, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
East Grand Rapids: Kent County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kent County (county-wide) · Annual averages
East Grand Rapids is about 2% of Kent County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What East Grand Rapids Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.7 min avg
How East Grand Rapids residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In East Grand Rapids, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 116 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 87% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in East Grand Rapids runs 87% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
42.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
582.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
East Grand Rapids Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kent County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kent County, which includes East Grand Rapids, 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 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30.2M |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $625,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $253,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $573,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.6M |
| 2018 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $160,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kent County, county-wide
East Grand Rapids is about 2% of Kent County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kent County, which includes East Grand Rapids, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
153
per year
Moderate Days
203
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Kent County, county-wide
East Grand Rapids is about 2% of Kent County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
East Grand Rapids has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.6"
Annual Snowfall
74.9"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
152
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.72" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 2.11" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 2.60" |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 4.10" |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 4.40" |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 4.03" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 3.31" |
| Aug | 81°F | 58°F | 3.05" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.52" |
| Oct | 61°F | 40°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 3.30" |
| Dec | 36°F | 23°F | 2.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in East Grand Rapids
Uninsured
1.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside East Grand Rapids's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 2.6 mi away · Grand Rapids
Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Grand Rapids
Spectrum Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 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.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in East Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 79.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
79.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near East Grand Rapids (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 18,854 students · in-state tuition $15,872 · 67% graduate · median earnings $60,120 (10 yrs after entry)
Grand Rapids Community College
3.2 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 · 3,193 students · in-state tuition $40,500 · 78% graduate · median earnings $60,411 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,298 students · in-state tuition $23,400 · 67% graduate · median earnings $52,119 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,083 students · in-state tuition $41,992 · 63% graduate · median earnings $53,667 (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 East Grand Rapids
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in East Grand Rapids
East Grand Rapids Branch Library
746 Lakeside Drive Se, East Grand Rapids
Cities Near East Grand Rapids
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to East Grand Rapids?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
East Grand Rapids FAQ
Is East Grand Rapids, Michigan affordable?⌄
East Grand Rapids's median rent is $1,862/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $166,610/year. Median home value is $521,300.
Is East Grand Rapids, Michigan safe?⌄
East Grand Rapids's violent crime rate was 43 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 583 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in East Grand Rapids, Michigan?⌄
Kent County, which includes East Grand Rapids, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in East Grand Rapids, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in East Grand Rapids is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,862/month and median household income is $166,610/year. The median home value is $521,300. About 27% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in East Grand Rapids, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in East Grand Rapids is 18 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