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Living in
Grand Rapids.
About
Life in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a community of 11,186 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $61,029, median rent runs about $1,090 per month, and median home values are around $213,800. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.
Grand Rapids at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Foreign-Born
1.3%
Broadband Internet
88.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Grand Rapids: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Grand Rapids, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.5%), and 0.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
24.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.4%
of households
Married Couples
45.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 15% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Grand Rapids
In Grand Rapids, rent runs 15% below the MN average, and home values are 35% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,485
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $280,069 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.3 pts above MN average
Unemployment in Grand Rapids
Unemployment in Itasca County, which includes Grand Rapids, is 2.3 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Grand Rapids: Itasca County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Itasca County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Grand Rapids Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15 min avg
How Grand Rapids residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Grand Rapids, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Range Regional Airport (HIB)
Regional airport · few flights13k 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 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Grand Rapids runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
62
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
903.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Grand Rapids Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Itasca County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Itasca County, which includes Grand Rapids, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 19 | Heavy Snow | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 26 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $10,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Hail | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | Heavy Snow | $500 |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Itasca County, county-wide
Air Quality28 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cass County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 43 miles from Grand Rapids) is typically good — 301 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
28
Good Days
301
per year
Moderate Days
50
per year
Unhealthy Days
8
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Cass County, MN (43 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 2°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Grand Rapids has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 2°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/28°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
52°/33°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
23°/2°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.4"
Annual Snowfall
59.6"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
187
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°F | -2°F | 0.97" |
| Feb | 26°F | 2°F | 0.85" |
| Mar | 39°F | 15°F | 1.33" |
| Apr | 53°F | 28°F | 2.10" |
| May | 66°F | 40°F | 3.23" |
| Jun | 75°F | 51°F | 4.70" |
| Jul | 80°F | 55°F | 4.14" |
| Aug | 78°F | 53°F | 3.40" |
| Sep | 68°F | 45°F | 3.05" |
| Oct | 53°F | 33°F | 2.79" |
| Nov | 36°F | 20°F | 1.59" |
| Dec | 23°F | 7°F | 1.23" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Essentia Health Deer River
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.2 mi away · Deer River
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.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Voyageurs National Park, 92 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Voyageurs National Park (92 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Voyageurs National Park
National Park
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Area Library
140 Ne 2nd Street, Grand Rapids
Cities Near Grand Rapids
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Grand Rapids?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Grand Rapids FAQ
Is Grand Rapids, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Grand Rapids's median rent is $1,090/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,029/year. Median home value is $213,800.
Is Grand Rapids, Minnesota safe?⌄
Grand Rapids's violent crime rate was 62 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 904 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Grand Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
Itasca County, which includes Grand Rapids, has an unemployment rate of 6.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Grand Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Grand Rapids is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,090/month and median household income is $61,029/year. The median home value is $213,800. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Grand Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Grand Rapids is 15 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