The Grand Rapids metro is home to 1,154,320 people (up 9.9% over five years), with a median household income of $80,296. Typical rent of $1,614/month works out to 24.1% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Grand Rapids's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.6% |
| Manufacturing | 20.5% |
| Retail trade | 10.8% |
| Professional & management | 9.8% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.1% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Grand Rapids market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,614/month suggests a household income around $65,000/year. The metro's median household income is $80,296.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.6%), Manufacturing (20.5%), Retail trade (10.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).