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CITY · 2010 ACS

Big Rapids

Michigan · 10,601 residents · 4.45 sq mi
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The short version

With 10,601 people, Big Rapids is a city in Michigan. This skews young, with a median age of 21.8. The poverty rate is 43.5%, above the 13.8% national rate. 34% of homes are owner-occupied. That trails the Michigan median by roughly 59%. The median household earns $20,068, about 62% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 21.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

10,601
−2%since 2000
from 10,849 in 2000
1990 – 2025
21.8
Unchangedsince 2000
from 21.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
4.45 sq mi
Population, 19902024
7K9K10K12K13K19902000201020202024Big Rapids
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 54.3%(459)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 93.4%(360)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 143%(313)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 1921.1%(2,238)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2434.7%(3,680)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3410.8%(1,146)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 445.1%(540)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 545.8%(613)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 645.4%(568)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 742.9%(309)
US avg: 7%
75 to 842.3%(243)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.2%(132)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$20,068
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,192 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
$12,360
+15%since 2000
from $10,719 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
12.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
43.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 35.0% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
0.533
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information16.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration0.4%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$103,000
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
$575
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $853
34.1%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 36.1% in 2000
65.9% rent
11.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
1.98 people
+6%since 2009
from 1.86 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
23.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
61.4%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
5.1
−16%since 2009
from 6.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.4%(8,939)
Black10.6%(1,147)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(199)
Asian2.2%(237)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(9,169)
Black6.7%(706)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(252)
Asian1.5%(155)
Other2.4%(254)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(155)
Costa Rican0.1%(16)
Ancestry
German30.5%(3,262)
Irish14.4%(1,538)
Polish10.7%(1,143)
English8.2%(874)
Dutch8%(856)
French5.3%(567)
Italian4.6%(488)
American2.8%(302)
Swedish2.8%(302)
Scottish1.7%(184)
Arab1.4%(155)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian1.3%(143)
Norwegian1.2%(127)
Danish1.2%(126)
Russian1.1%(116)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(83)
British0.8%(82)
Finnish0.7%(76)
Lebanese0.5%(51)
Austrian0.4%(43)
Czech0.4%(42)
Welsh0.4%(42)
Greek0.3%(36)
Bulgarian0.3%(35)
Croatian0.3%(30)
Canadian0.3%(27)
Syrian0.2%(21)
Belgian0.2%(18)
Slovene0.1%(14)
Turkish0.1%(13)
Lithuanian0.1%(8)
Slovak0.1%(7)
Swiss0.1%(7)
Section 05

Education

21.2%
−10.5 ptssince 2000
from 31.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
85.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
8.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

11.7 min
−10%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
61.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
4.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
4.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
26.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
2.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
15.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

19.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
26.3%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

53.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
46.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
3.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
4.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married71.8%(2,913)
Married17.4%(706)
Widowed0.8%(32)
Divorced10.1%(408)
Women 15+
Never married55.1%(1,956)
Married23.4%(830)
Widowed8.5%(301)
Divorced13%(462)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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 10,601 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Big Rapids, Michigan earns about $20,068 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 $103,000, and the typical rent is about $575 a month.

How educated are people in Big Rapids, Michigan?

About 21.2% 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 43.5% 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 2,002 residents, a change of about -16 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 →