What it's like to live in Kentwood
Kentwood is a smaller city in Michigan with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kentwood deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 78" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Kentwood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kentwood
Based on Kentwood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,520
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,400 a year
- 44% of Kentwood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$53,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,820
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,260/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,260 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $268,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $268,200 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 77% above US
583 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1845/100k · Kentwood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Bottom line
Kentwood's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,260/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Kentwood
All Michigan guides →Moving to East Grand Rapids →
4 mi away · pop. 11,445
Rent $1,862/mo · Income $166,610
Compare with Kentwood →Moving to Cutlerville →
5 mi away · pop. 18,780
Rent $1,254/mo · Income $67,327
Compare with Kentwood →Moving to Forest Hills →
5 mi away · pop. 28,695
Rent $1,958/mo · Income $158,005
Compare with Kentwood →Not sure Kentwood is the one?
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