United States › Michigan › Big Rapids CITY · 2020 ACS
Big Rapids Michigan · 7,727 residents · 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Big Rapids is a city of 7,727 people in Michigan. This skews young, with a median age of 23.7. The poverty rate is 37.7%, above the 12.8% national rate. 38% of homes are owner-occupied. 64% were living in the same home a year earlier. Households here earn about 52% less than in Michigan as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 23.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 21.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 9K 10K 12K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Big Rapids Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $28,628
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,192 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $10,719 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 35.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Public administration 1.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.3%
Education & health services 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
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$100,100
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$675
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $462 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 36.1% in 2000
62.4% rent
2.26 people
+22%since 2009
from 1.86 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.4%(8,939)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(199)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 80.9%(6,249)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(351)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 31.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 22.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.7%(59)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.8%(72)
Share of the 316 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Big Rapids Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Big Rapids, Michigan? Big Rapids, Michigan has about 7,727 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Big Rapids, Michigan? The typical household in Big Rapids, Michigan earns about $28,628 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 $100,100, and the typical rent is about $675 a month.
How educated are people in Big Rapids, Michigan? About 29.5% 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 37.7% 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 4,876 residents, a change of about -39 percent over that period.
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