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Living in
Grand Haven.
About
Life in Grand Haven
Grand Haven is a community of 10,966 people in Michigan. The median household income is $60,665, median rent runs about $939 per month, and median home values are around $250,100. Unemployment is low at 4.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Grand Haven at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Grand Haven: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Grand Haven, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (37.3%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.7%
of residents
65 and Older
28.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
18.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.7%
of households
Married Couples
39.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.95
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 17% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Grand Haven
In Grand Haven, rent runs 17% below the MI average, and home values are 8% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,401
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $398,932 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Grand Haven
Unemployment in Ottawa County, which includes Grand Haven, is 1 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Grand Haven: Ottawa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ottawa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Grand Haven is about 4% of Ottawa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Grand Haven Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.9 min avg
How Grand Haven residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Grand Haven, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Muskegon County Airport (MKG)
Regional airport · few flights6,940 passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 113 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 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Grand Haven runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
217.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
714.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Grand Haven Police Department
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 Grand Haven, 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
Grand Haven is about 4% of Ottawa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ottawa County, which includes Grand Haven, 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
Grand Haven is about 4% of Ottawa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Grand Haven 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
37.6"
Annual Snowfall
87.2"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
143
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Grand Haven
Grand Haven has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Trinity Health Grand Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · Muskegon
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.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Grand Haven
Grand Haven's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Grand Haven (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 2,760 students · in-state tuition $7,600 · 22% graduate · median earnings $41,245 (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 Grand Haven
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Grand Haven
Loutit District Library
407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven
Cities Near Grand Haven
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Grand Haven?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Grand Haven FAQ
Is Grand Haven, Michigan affordable?⌄
Grand Haven's median rent is $939/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $60,669/year. Median home value is $250,100.
Is Grand Haven, Michigan safe?⌄
Grand Haven's violent crime rate was 217 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 715 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Grand Haven, Michigan?⌄
Ottawa County, which includes Grand Haven, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Grand Haven, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Grand Haven is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $939/month and median household income is $60,669/year. The median home value is $250,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Grand Haven, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Grand Haven is 17 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