Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Grand Rapids, MI

    Is Grand Rapids a good place to live?

    Watch Grand Rapids

    Grand Rapids ranks #21 of 50 Michigan cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (53/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.2% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $225,500
    +10.6% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,191
    per month
    Household income
    $65,526
    median
    Unemployment
    5.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Grand Rapids

    The median home value in Grand Rapids is $225,500 and median rent is $1,191 a month, against a median household income of $65,526. Homes cost about 3.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Grand Rapids crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Michigan the 2025 rate was 431 violent and 1,300 property crimes per 100,000 people — #28 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Grand Rapids, MI

    Grand Rapids has about 197,768 residents, 5.0% unemployment and 26% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Grand Rapids with

    Grand Rapids vs DetroitGrand Rapids vs WarrenGrand Rapids vs Sterling HeightsGrand Rapids vs Ann ArborGrand Rapids vs LansingGrand Rapids vs DearbornGrand Rapids vs LivoniaGrand Rapids vs Troy

    More: Where to move in Michigan · Best counties in Michigan

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report