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Living in
Jenison.
Jenison 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 Jenison
Jenison functions as a classic bedroom community for Grand Rapids, sitting just close enough to tap into a larger job market while maintaining its own quieter, family-oriented character. With a median household income around $90,000 and a median home value near $282,000, it's relatively affordable compared to many Midwest suburbs, though you're paying a premium over truly rural areas—and rents averaging $2,306 monthly reflect that suburban positioning. The population is predominantly white and stable—actually declining slightly—so if you're moving here, you're joining an established community that isn't rapidly transforming, which some people love and others find limiting depending on what diversity means to them.
Jenison at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
1.1%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.1% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Jenison: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jenison, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (22.4%), and 0.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
66.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 104% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Jenison
In Jenison, rent runs 104% above the MI average, and home values are 22% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
70.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,509
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
87.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $366,713 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Jenison
Unemployment in Ottawa County, which includes Jenison, is 1 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Jenison: Ottawa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ottawa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Jenison Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.1 min avg
How Jenison residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jenison, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 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 Jenison, 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 Jenison, 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 Jenison, 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
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jenison 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
39.3"
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 Jenison
Uninsured
1.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Jenison's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
University of Michigan Health - West
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Wyoming
Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Grand Rapids
Spectrum Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jenison
Jenison's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Jenison (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
7.6 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 · 3,193 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 Jenison
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Jenison
Georgetown Township Public Library
1525 Baldwin Street, Jenison
Cities Near Jenison
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jenison?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jenison FAQ
Is Jenison, Michigan affordable?⌄
Jenison's median rent is $2,306/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $89,593/year. Median home value is $281,600.
Is Jenison, Michigan safe?⌄
Jenison 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 Jenison, Michigan?⌄
Ottawa County, which includes Jenison, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jenison, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Jenison is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,306/month and median household income is $89,593/year. The median home value is $281,600. About 70% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jenison, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Jenison is 20 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