Kent County, MI Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 659,927 | 9,970,748 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 757.2 | 103.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.65% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 254,760 | 4,038,037 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Kent County grew by 9.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 658,590 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Kent County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,993 | $71,353 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.69% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Kent County is about 14% higher than in Michigan.
Housing
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $227,327 | $134,610 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,175 | $1,084 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.4% | 72.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Kent County is about 16.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,175 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Kent County spend about 38 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 157 hours, about 6.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.8 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 37.6 | 42.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 157 | 179 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,852 | $5,537 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 12.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 9,963 | 8,204 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,367 | 1,585 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Michigan:
Luce County (10.8 min), Dickinson County (12.6 min), Baraga County (13.1 min).
Slowest:
Lapeer County (31.2 min), Livingston County (30.1 min), Barry County (27.7 min).
The average commute time in Kent County is 19 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Kent County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.54 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.4), Oakland County (0.4), Leelanau County (0.4).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.2), Oscoda County (0.2), Kalkaska County (0.2).
Health
Kent County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.7 | 78.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.8% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.7% | 20.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.8), Ottawa County (0.8), Livingston County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clare County (0.8), Oscoda County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kent County, Michigan.
What is the population of Kent County, Michigan?
The population of Kent County, Michigan is 659,927, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Kent County, Michigan?
The population density of Kent County, Michigan is 757.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Kent County, Michigan?
The median household income in Kent County, Michigan is $80,993, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Kent County, Michigan?
The median home price in Kent County, Michigan is $227,327, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Kent County, Michigan?
The unemployment rate in Kent County, Michigan is 4.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.