COMPARING TWO PLACES
Backus vs Grand Rapids
PLACE A
Backus, Minnesota
VS
PLACE B
Grand Rapids, Ohio
Backus is 72% smaller than Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids earns more, with a median household income $20,000 higher. Backus has grown faster since 2000 (5% vs -4%).
BACKUSGRAND RAPIDSDIFFERENCE
Total population264931−72% vs Grand Rapids
Population density4261,056−630
Population growth5.2%-4.1%+9.3 pts
Median age45.339.3+6.0
Male59.8%49.9%+9.9 pts
Female40.2%50.1%−9.9 pts
Foreign-born4.5%1.5%+3.0 pts
White, non-Hispanic66.7%90.1%−23.5 pts
Black3.1%3.9%−0.8 pts
Hispanic / Latino3.8%5.0%−1.2 pts
Asian0.3%0.2%+0.1 pts
Other26.1%0.7%+25.4 pts
Median household income$56,250$76,250−$20,000
Per capita income$30,042$38,168−$8,126
Poverty rate17.9%12.0%+5.9 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4080.366+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher14.8%27.3%−12.5 pts
Graduate degree7.9%9.9%−2.0 pts
Unemployment rate3.0%2.3%+0.7 pts
Labor force participation58.1%69.2%−11.1 pts
Median home value$134,700$173,700−$39,000
Median gross rent$720$840−$120
Owner-occupied70.5%65.9%+4.7 pts
Housing vacancy rate32.1%10.5%+21.7 pts
Rent-burdened households9.1%35.1%−26.0 pts
Average commute24.027.5−3.5
Worked from home7.8%6.8%+1.0 pts
Public transit to work5.5%0.0%+5.5 pts
Uninsured12.0%2.2%+9.8 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025