© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Walker.
About
Life in Walker
Walker offers a practical suburban lifestyle within commuting distance of Grand Rapids, with a median commute of just 19 minutes and easy highway access via I-96. Housing is moderately priced with a median home value around $295,200 and median rent at $1,202 monthly, while household incomes average $76,360—reflecting a stable, middle-to-upper-middle-class community. The job market is solid with low unemployment at 3.1%, and the presence of Meijer and Bissell headquarters provides significant local employment.
Walker at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Foreign-Born
6.9%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Walker: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Walker, the largest foreign-born group is from India (27.3%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
46.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.37
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 6% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Walker
In Walker, rent runs 6% above the MI average, and home values are 27% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,698
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $359,796 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.1 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Walker
Unemployment in Walker is 2.1 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Walker Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Walker residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Walker, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 107 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 129 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 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Walker runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
229.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,594.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Walker 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 Walker, 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
Walker is about 4% 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 Walker, 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
Walker is about 4% 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
Walker 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 Walker
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Walker's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Spectrum Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Grand Rapids
Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Grand Rapids
University of Michigan Health - West
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.9 mi away · Wyoming
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.
Education16.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Walker
Walker's student/teacher ratio is 16.4:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 38.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Walker (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
4.2 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 Walker
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Walker
Walker Branch
4293 Remembrance Road Nw, Walker
Cities Near Walker
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Walker?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Walker FAQ
Is Walker, Michigan affordable?⌄
Walker's median rent is $1,202/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $76,360/year. Median home value is $295,200.
Is Walker, Michigan safe?⌄
Walker's violent crime rate was 230 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2594 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Walker, Michigan?⌄
Walker has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Walker, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Walker is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,202/month and median household income is $76,360/year. The median home value is $295,200. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Walker, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Walker 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