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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Big Rapids

Michigan · 10,849 residents · 4.445 sq mi
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The short version

Big Rapids has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $20,192. Population has declined 14% since 1990. Median home value is $72,000. At a median age of 21.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 35.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 55% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 21.8
US median: 35.2
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,849
−14%since 1990
from 12,603 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
21.8
+2%since 1990
from 21.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K9K10K12K13K1990201020202024Big Rapids
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.3%(575)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 94%(436)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 143.6%(389)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 1920.3%(2,205)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2433%(3,579)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.7%(1,164)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 446.5%(709)
US avg: 16%
45 to 545.7%(619)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 643.4%(371)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 743.1%(339)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843%(325)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.3%(138)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$20,192
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $14,990 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,719
+46%since 1990
from $7,355 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
35.0%
−9.4 ptssince 1990
from 44.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$72,000
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $52,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$462
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $350 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
36.1%
−3.2 ptssince 1990
from 39.3% in 1990
63.9% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Rapids on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92%(11,590)
Black5%(634)
Hispanic / Latino2%(247)
Asian1.1%(135)
2000
White, non-Hispanic82.4%(8,939)
Black10.6%(1,147)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(199)
Asian2.2%(237)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.8%(154)
Puerto Rican0.6%(54)
Salvadoran0.1%(12)
Panamanian0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Korean0.2%(18)
Chinese0.2%(16)
Burmese0.2%(15)
Filipino0.2%(14)
Japanese0.1%(6)
Vietnamese0.1%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German19.7%(1,670)
English11%(936)
Irish8.7%(734)
Polish6.1%(516)
Dutch5.5%(466)
Italian3.1%(259)
American2.9%(244)
Scottish2.5%(213)
French2.4%(202)
Swedish1.7%(142)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(106)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian1.1%(92)
Norwegian0.9%(75)
Finnish0.8%(67)
Slovak0.4%(32)
Russian0.3%(28)
Canadian0.2%(18)
Swiss0.2%(14)
Arab0.2%(13)
Czech0.1%(11)
Ukrainian0.1%(11)
Lebanese0.1%(9)
Greek0.1%(9)
Croatian0.1%(8)
Romanian0.1%(8)
Portuguese0.1%(6)
Belgian0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.7%
+0.7 ptssince 1990
from 31.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
87.3%
+5.0 ptssince 1990
from 82.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
13.3%
−1.7 ptssince 1990
from 15.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.0 min
−13%since 1990
from 14.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married51.2%(2,521)
Married42.4%(2,087)
Widowed1.9%(92)
Divorced4.5%(223)
Women 15+
Never married43.2%(1,906)
Married39.1%(1,724)
Widowed7%(308)
Divorced10.7%(473)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

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Compare Big Rapids to nearby cities

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BIG RAPIDS VS
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BIG RAPIDS VS
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BIG RAPIDS VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Rapids, Michigan?

Big Rapids, Michigan has about 10,849 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Big Rapids, Michigan?

The typical household in Big Rapids, Michigan earns about $20,192 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 $72,000, and the typical rent is about $462 a month.

How educated are people in Big Rapids, Michigan?

About 31.7% 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 35.0% 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 1,754 residents, a change of about -14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →