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
median household income $43,858, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Big Rapids
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree31.0% → 26.9%(−4.1 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Population12,603 → 8,477(−33%)US over the same years: +35%
White share91.0% → 86.4%(−4.6 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Big Rapids's population equals 21% of Mecosta County's. Its number of veterans equals 8.0% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 9.2% of the county's.
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.7%(34)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era37.5%(72)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.6%(5)
US avg: 1%
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
Over time
Big Rapids, decade by decade
Big Rapids population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
12,603
$35,977
$126,244
31.0%
21.1
2000
10,849
$36,783
$131,159
31.7%
38.5
2010
10,601
$28,869
$148,173
21.2%
30.8
2020
7,727
$34,698
$121,325
29.5%
42.4
2024
8,477
$43,858
$156,400
26.9%
30.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
