Grand Rapids, Michigan Income Statistics
Grand Rapids Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Grand Rapids Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Grand Rapids | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,819 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,116 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Grand Rapids is about 4% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Grand Rapids (6.3%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Grand Rapids earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Grand Rapids, Michigan grew by 76.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,819 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Grand Rapids
| Metric | Grand Rapids | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.514 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,779 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,441 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.5% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Grand Rapids, it is 0.514, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 16% more than women's income in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 16% wage gap accumulates to roughly $291,830 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grand Rapids, Michigan has widened from about 12% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 14% in 2021, and was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,633 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Grand Rapids widened by 1.1 points while Michigan's narrowed by 7.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Grand Rapids | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.9% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,721 people are unemployed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The average commute time in Grand Rapids is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan has fallen from 12.4% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.0% in 2023.
Grand Rapids, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Grand Rapids, MI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI | 196,641 | $69,819 #3/3 | 6.3%/yr #1/3 | 5.2% #3/3 | 0.514 #3/3 |
| Wyoming, MI | 77,126 | $73,270 | 5.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.493 |
| Walker, MI | 24,855 | $77,523 | 4.6%/yr | 2.9% | 0.463 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Grand Rapids, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
How Rich Is Grand Rapids, Michigan?
Grand Rapids has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,819, about 4% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Grand Rapids, Michigan rose 77%, from $39,490 to $69,819. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +77% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Grand Rapids in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Grand Rapids, Michigan was $65,893, up 7% from $61,829 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Grand Rapids in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Grand Rapids, Michigan was $52,056. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $69,819.
What is the Gini coefficient in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Grand Rapids is 0.514. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Grand Rapids, Michigan has widened from about 12% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 14% in 2021, and was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,633 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →