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Living in
Kentwood.
About
Life in Kentwood
Kentwood offers suburban living with genuine convenience—your commute to Grand Rapids jobs averages just 20 minutes, and major highways thread through the city, so you're not isolated. The median home price sits around $268,000 with a median household income near $74,000, which reflects a reasonably stable middle-class community, though rent runs about $1,260 monthly if you're not buying. The city itself is fully urban with no rural areas, so expect typical suburban density rather than open space, though two rail trails provide some outdoor recreation options.
Kentwood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Foreign-Born
19.2%
Broadband Internet
91.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.2% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Kentwood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kentwood, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (12.4%), and 5.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
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 12% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Kentwood
In Kentwood, rent runs 12% above the MI average, and home values are 16% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,246
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $332,257 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in Kentwood
Unemployment in Kentwood is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kentwood Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.7 min avg
How Kentwood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kentwood, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 84% 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
- 114 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 124 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 77% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kentwood runs 77% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
582.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,845.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kentwood 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 Kentwood, 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
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kent County, which includes Kentwood, 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
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kentwood has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
77.6"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
149
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 19°F | 2.52" |
| Feb | 34°F | 20°F | 2.12" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.39" |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.99" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.00" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.94" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 3.86" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 3.55" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.43" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 4.02" |
| Nov | 47°F | 33°F | 3.10" |
| Dec | 36°F | 25°F | 2.48" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kentwood
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Kentwood's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.4 mi away · Grand Rapids
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Psychiatric · 4.5 mi away · Grand Rapids
Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 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.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kentwood
Kentwood's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Kentwood (within 15 miles)
Grand Rapids Community College
6.8 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 Kentwood
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Kentwood
Kentwood Branch
4950 Breton Road Se, Kentwood
Cities Near Kentwood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Kentwood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kentwood FAQ
Is Kentwood, Michigan affordable?⌄
Kentwood's median rent is $1,260/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,373/year. Median home value is $268,200.
Is Kentwood, Michigan safe?⌄
Kentwood's violent crime rate was 583 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1845 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kentwood, Michigan?⌄
Kentwood has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kentwood, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Kentwood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,260/month and median household income is $74,373/year. The median home value is $268,200. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kentwood, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Kentwood 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