Big Rapids

Population: 7,847
Median household income: $40,197
Median home value: $134,200

Located in Mecosta County, Michigan, Big Rapids is a community with a population of 7,847. The median household income of $40,197 is below the Mecosta County median ($57,774).

From 2019 to 2023, Big Rapids's population declined 24.2% from 10,355 to 7,847, while its median home value rose 42.9% from $93,900 to $134,200.

66.6% of workers drive to work alone. 39.5% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 7,847
Median age: 23.0 yrs
Median household income: $40,197
Median home value: $134,200
Median gross rent: $815
Housing units: 3,347
Homeownership rate: 40.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 28.3%
Unemployment rate: 5.5%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

10,3557,847

Median household income

$26,227$40,197

Median home value

$93,900$134,200

Median gross rent

$670$815

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	10,355	$26,227	$93,900	$670
2020	10,358	$28,628	$100,100	$675
2021	9,105	$29,239	$105,500	$732
2022	7,915	$36,058	$130,500	$732
2023	7,847	$40,197	$134,200	$815

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.3%

5 to 1710.0%

18 to 2446.6%

25 to 348.6%

35 to 4411.1%

45 to 544.9%

55 to 646.4%

65 to 746.2%

75 and over3.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	184	2.3%
5 to 17	784	10.0%
18 to 24	3,658	46.6%
25 to 34	678	8.6%
35 to 44	871	11.1%
45 to 54	387	4.9%
55 to 64	504	6.4%
65 to 74	485	6.2%
75 and over	296	3.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	6,620	84.4%
Black or African American	477	6.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native	128	1.6%
Asian	74	0.9%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	5	0.1%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	138	1.8%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	405	5.2%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma7.2%

High school graduate35.4%

Some college or associate's29.1%

Bachelor's degree17.9%

Graduate or professional degree10.4%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	232	7.2%
High school graduate	1,141	35.4%
Some college or associate's	936	29.1%
Bachelor's degree	576	17.9%
Graduate or professional degree	336	10.4%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 15 min

Drove alone66.6%

Carpooled6.1%

Public transit1.4%

Walked16.2%

Bicycle0.8%

Worked from home7.1%

Other means1.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	2,593	66.6%
Carpooled	236	6.1%
Public transit	55	1.4%
Walked	631	16.2%
Bicycle	30	0.8%
Worked from home	276	7.1%
Other means	74	1.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	2,225	61.5%
15 to 29 min	820	22.7%
30 to 44 min	225	6.2%
45 to 59 min	206	5.7%
60+ min	143	4.0%

Households

Average household size: 2.07
Poverty rate: 35.4% (2,058 of 5,814)

	Count	Share
Family households	976	34.9%
Nonfamily households	1,820	65.1%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1970

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,796	83.5%
Vacant	551	16.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	1,127	40.3%
Renter-occupied	1,669	59.7%

1-unit, detached39.5%

1-unit, attached3.2%

2 to 4 units22.8%

5 to 19 units18.4%

20 or more units8.4%

Mobile home & other7.7%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,321	39.5%
1-unit, attached	108	3.2%
2 to 4 units	764	22.8%
5 to 19 units	615	18.4%
20 or more units	282	8.4%
Mobile home & other	257	7.7%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2608300
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 4.45 sq mi
Water area: 0.12 sq mi
Center point: 43.6997, -85.4813