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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Big Rapids Micro

Big Rapids, MI · 1 counties · 39,714 residents · 555.155 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 $45,797. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $122,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,714
−2%since 2000
from 40,553 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
72 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 73 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
40.0
+25%since 2000
from 31.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
37K39K40K42K44K1990201020202024Big Rapids
202441K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(2,145)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.3%(2,120)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.9%(2,338)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.9%(3,119)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410%(3,976)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.6%(4,203)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410%(3,975)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.3%(4,094)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.9%(5,540)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.3%(4,885)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.4%(2,536)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2%(783)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,797
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,849 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,748
+45%since 2000
from $16,372 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
28.3%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
19.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade13.3%
US avg: 10%
Information13.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,500
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$716
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $470 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
73.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.7% in 2000
26.3% rent
Afford Score
2.7
−21%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Rapids on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(37,259)
Black3.6%(1,450)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(520)
Asian0.9%(346)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(35,521)
Black1.9%(772)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(1,026)
Asian0.8%(312)
Other3%(1,175)
Segregation Score
26
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.9%(805)
Puerto Rican0.3%(115)
Spaniard0.1%(29)
Peruvian0%(19)
Cuban0%(11)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(140)
Chinese0.2%(93)
Filipino0.1%(47)
Korean0.1%(40)
Japanese0.1%(22)
Sri Lankan0.1%(22)
Burmese0%(18)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(14)
Ancestry
German23.3%(10,113)
Irish11.8%(5,115)
English11%(4,799)
Polish5.3%(2,304)
Dutch5.1%(2,216)
American5%(2,158)
French4%(1,728)
Italian2.5%(1,104)
Scottish2.2%(947)
Swedish1.8%(782)
Norwegian1.1%(478)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.8%(341)
Hungarian0.7%(311)
Danish0.6%(257)
Welsh0.5%(204)
British0.4%(187)
Finnish0.4%(168)
Czech0.3%(144)
Russian0.3%(139)
Belgian0.3%(132)
Swiss0.3%(111)
Lithuanian0.2%(105)
Slovak0.2%(82)
Greek0.1%(65)
Canadian0.1%(50)
Ukrainian0.1%(48)
Lebanese0.1%(47)
Romanian0.1%(42)
Portuguese0.1%(33)
Egyptian0.1%(29)
Moroccan0.1%(28)
Austrian0.1%(27)
Iranian0%(21)
Syrian0%(18)
Armenian0%(16)
Serbian0%(12)
Arab0%(7)
Iraqi0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+25%since 2000
from 18.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−9.1 ptssince 2011
from 15.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
54.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 57.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.1%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.1%
−78.9 ptssince 2013
from 86.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married36.7%(6,400)
Married46.1%(8,043)
Widowed3.8%(664)
Divorced13.3%(2,325)
Women 15+
Never married29.8%(5,172)
Married47.9%(8,322)
Widowed10%(1,745)
Divorced12.3%(2,142)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

Big RapidsCENTRAL8,623Canadian Lakes2,991Morley535Mecosta484Barryton415Stanwood212Paris202
What's inside

1 component county

Mecosta CountyCENTRAL42,320
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Big Rapids

Duncan
Pop 44,310
Alexander City
Pop 40,953
Burlington
Pop 44,061
Bucyrus
Pop 41,896
Places similar to Big Rapids
Head to head

Compare Big Rapids side by side

BIG RAPIDS VS
Duncan
Income$61,620+35%
Home value$145,300+19%
Population44,310+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG RAPIDS VS
Alexander City
Income$59,356+30%
Home value$158,500+29%
Population40,953−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG RAPIDS VS
Burlington
Income$62,831+37%
Home value$132,051+8%
Population44,061+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BIG RAPIDS VS
Bucyrus
Income$58,044+27%
Home value$136,700+12%
Population41,896−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Rapids, MI?

Big Rapids, MI has about 39,714 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Big Rapids, MI earns about $45,797 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Big Rapids, MI expensive?

In Big Rapids, MI, the median home is worth about $122,500, and the typical rent is about $716 a month.

How educated are people in Big Rapids, MI?

About 22.9% of adults age 25 and over in Big Rapids, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Big Rapids, MI?

About 19.5% of people in Big Rapids, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Big Rapids, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Big Rapids, MI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,406 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →