Grand Rapids, Michigan has an overall cost of living index of 95.0, which is 5.0 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,266 per month, while the typical home is valued around $244,500. Households earn a median of $69,108 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 52. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$69,108
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,266
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$244,500
Median Home Value
Census ACS
95.0
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,232
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,278
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,531
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,980
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
95.0
Goods
94.1
Rents / Housing
88.8
Services
92.7
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $109,330 |
| Registered Nurse | $85,880 |
| Elementary Teacher | $62,780 |
| Electrician | $65,560 |
| Accountant | $81,540 |
| Plumber | $70,110 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $223,710 |
| Civil Engineer | $92,310 |
| Operations Manager | $125,470 |
| Market Research Analyst | $69,320 |
| Health Services Manager | $138,240 |
| Truck Driver | $55,300 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $107,180 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
198,535
Latest estimate
Median Age
32.3 yrs
Census ACS
52.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
13
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,128
Per month
Avg Home Value
$229,554
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 49503 | — | $1,116 | $204,000 |
| ZIP 49504 | — | $1,109 | $203,200 |
| ZIP 49505 | — | $1,179 | $202,400 |
| ZIP 49506 | — | $1,251 | $306,400 |
| ZIP 49507 | — | $1,073 | $161,000 |
| ZIP 49508 | — | $1,136 | $226,900 |
| ZIP 49509 | — | $933 | $164,900 |
| ZIP 49512 | — | $1,126 | $268,900 |
| ZIP 49525 | — | $1,296 | $270,200 |
| ZIP 49534 | — | $1,111 | $247,100 |
Showing top 10 of 13 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
24°F
July Avg
72°F
Sunny Days / Year
212
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.4
poor
Hospitals
4
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
92.8%
Grand Rapids has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.0. The US national average is 100, so Grand Rapids is 5.0 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Grand Rapids is $1,266 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Grand Rapids is $69,108 per year.
The median home value in Grand Rapids is $244,500 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Grand Rapids has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 52.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Michigan is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
