United States › Michigan › Big Rapids CITY
Big Rapids Michigan · 8,623 residents (2025 est.) · 4.45 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Big Rapids is a city of 8,477 people in Michigan. This skews young, with a median age of 22.9. 60% were living in the same home a year earlier. The poverty rate is 34.1%, above the 12.5% national rate. 41% of homes are owner-occupied. That trails the Michigan median by roughly 40%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 22.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 10,849 in 2000
8,623 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,907 / sq mi
−19%since 2009
from 2,347 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 21.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 9K 10K 12K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Big Rapids Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $43,858
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,192 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $10,719 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 35.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.533 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Public administration 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing 0.6%
Education & health services 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$156,400
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$929
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 36.1% in 2000
58.5% rent
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.06 people
+11%since 2009
from 1.86 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 6.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.4%(8,939)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(199)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 86.4%(7,327)
Hispanic / Latino 2.7%(233)
from 38 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 31.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 22.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 92.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 64.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 71.8%(2,913)
Women 15+
Never married 55.1%(1,956)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 49.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 10.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 31.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 37.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 34.9%(67)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.7%(34)
Share of the 192 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Big Rapids, Michigan? Big Rapids, Michigan has about 8,477 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Big Rapids, Michigan? The typical household in Big Rapids, Michigan earns about $43,858 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Big Rapids, Michigan expensive? In Big Rapids, Michigan, the median home is worth about $156,400, and the typical rent is about $929 a month.
How educated are people in Big Rapids, Michigan? About 26.9% of adults age 25 and over in Big Rapids, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Big Rapids, Michigan? About 34.1% of people in Big Rapids, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.
Has Big Rapids, Michigan grown since 1990? Yes, Big Rapids, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,126 residents, a change of about -33 percent over that period.
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