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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Big Rapids

Michigan · 10,849 residents · 4.45 sq mi
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The short version

Big Rapids is home to 10,849 people in Michigan. This skews young, with a median age of 21.8. Owners hold 36% of the housing stock. The poverty rate is 35.0%, above the 12.4% national rate. Households here earn about 55% less than in Michigan as a whole. The median household earns $20,192, about 53% below the national 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

10,849
−14%since 1990
from 12,603 in 1990
1990 – 2025
21.8
+2%since 1990
from 21.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
4.45 sq mi
Population, 19902024
7K9K10K12K13K19902000201020202024Big 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

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

Housing

$72,000
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $52,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$462
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $350 in 1990
US average: $602
36.1%
−3.2 ptssince 1990
from 39.3% in 1990
63.9% rent
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
13.3%
−1.7 ptssince 1990
from 15.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

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
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.2%
−9.5 ptssince 2013
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
54.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
from 49.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 17.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
11.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 10.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 31.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
69.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2020
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
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)
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
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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 →