Poverty in Grand Rapids, Michigan
What is the poverty rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
The poverty rate in Grand Rapids is 22.5%. One out of every 4.5 residents of Grand Rapids lives in poverty.
How many people in Grand Rapids, Michigan live in poverty?
42,241 of 188,107 Grand Rapids residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.
How does the poverty rate in Grand Rapids compare to the rest of Michigan?
The Poverty Rate across the state of Michigan is 15.6%, meaning Grand Rapids has a dramatically higher than average percentage of residents below the poverty line when compared to the rest of Michigan.
Historical Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY % Change | National |
|---|---|---|---|
2010 |
30.0% | 15.3% | |
2011 |
26.8% | 11.0% | 15.9% |
2012 |
29.4% | 9.0% | 15.9% |
2013 |
25.2% | 16.0% | 15.8% |
2014 |
26.8% | 6.0% | 15.5% |
2015 |
22.9% | 16.0% | 14.7% |
2016 |
21.9% | 4.0% | 14.0% |
2017 |
15.8% | 38.0% | 13.4% |
Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By Race
| Race | Population | Poverty Rate | National Poverty Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Black |
37,952 |
32.1% | 25.2% | 19.4% |
Asian |
3,832 |
26.3% | 11.9% | 2.0% |
Other |
9,892 |
36.8% | 23.8% | 5.1% |
Two Or More Races |
9,207 |
37.2% | 18.4% | 4.7% |
White |
111,279 |
14.8% | 10.3% | 57.0% |
Hispanic |
29,288 |
36.5% | 22.2% | 15.0% |
What's the Poverty Rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan By Race?
32.1% of Black residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of black residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan is the same as than the national average. 12,174 of 37,952 black Michiganders live below the poverty line. Approximately 19.4% of the total population of Grand Rapids, Michigan are black.
26.3% of Asian residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of asian residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan is dramatically higher than the national average of 11.9%. 1,006 of 3,832 asian Michiganders live below the poverty line. Approximately 2.0% of the total population of Grand Rapids, Michigan are asian.
14.8% of White residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of white residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan is the same as than the national average. 16,514 of 111,279 white Michiganders live below the poverty line. Approximately 57.0% of the total population of Grand Rapids, Michigan are white.
36.5% of Hispanic residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan live below the poverty line.
The Poverty Rate of hispanic residents in Grand Rapids, Michigan is dramatically higher than the national average of 22.2%. 10,685 of 29,288 hispanic Michiganders live below the poverty line. Approximately 15.0% of the total population of Grand Rapids, Michigan are hispanic.
Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By Sex
What is the poverty rate for men vs women living in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
Male
The Poverty Rate for men who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan is 21.6%.
Female
The Poverty Rate for women who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan is 23.3%.
Poverty Rate Disparity for Male vs Female Residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Female residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan are slightly(7%) more likely to live in poverty than males.
19,926 of 92,449 males in Grand Rapids live below the poverty line.
22,315 of 95,658 females in Grand Rapids live below the poverty line.
Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By School Enrollment
Understanding where poverty hits hardest in Grand Rapids can be better understood by segmenting poverty by whether or not the resident is in school or not.
- Enrolled in School in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 32.9%.
- Not Enrolled in School in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 17.6%.
Poverty for younger ages in Grand Rapids is seen as the most undesirable for the future of the community.
- Enrolled in Nursery School in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 28.4%.
- Enrolled in Elementary School(Grades 1-4) in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 32.2%.
Poverty for developing children and young adults in Grand Rapids can have drastic impacts on graduation and college attendance rates.
- Enrolled in Middle School(Grade 5-8) in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 34.7%.
- Enrolled in High School (Grades 9-12) in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 23.3%.
Adult students in college, graduate or professional schools generally bring employers, revenue and higher living wages post-graduation and are seen as a positive to the community.
- Enrolled in Undergraduate School in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 43.0%.
- Enrolled in Graduate or Professional School in Grand Rapids, Michigan have a Poverty Rate of 28.6%.
Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By Age
What's the Poverty Rate By Age in Grand Rapids, Michigan?
Breakdown of Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By Age
| Age | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|
Children Under 6 |
32.5% |
Children 6 to 11 Years Old |
33.1% |
Adolescents 12 to 17 Years Old |
25.3% |
Adults 18 to 59 Years Old |
22.3% |
Adults 60 to 74 Years Old |
11.6% |
75 to 84 Years Old |
10.2% |
Over 85 Years Old |
10.6% |
Grand Rapids, Michigan Poverty Rate By Place of Birth
What is the poverty rate for residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born?
US Citizen
The Poverty Rate for residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan who were born citizens of the United States is 21.7%.
Foreign
The Poverty Rate for residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan who were born citizens of a country other than the US is 29.0%.
Poverty Rate for residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan born US Citizens vs Foreign-Born
Foreign-born residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan have a higher poverty rate than those who were born US citizens.
Of the 168,478 residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan who were born citizens of the United States, 36,555 (21.7%) had income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Conversely, 5,686 (29.0%) of 19,629 residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan who were born citizens of a country other than the US reported income levels below the poverty line within the past year.
Poverty Rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan
The poverty rate in Grand Rapids is 22.5%.Grand Rapids is in Kent County.
Here is a comparison of Poverty Rate by city(minimum 1,000 residents) in Kent County.
| City | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|
| Byron Center | 7.7% |
| Caledonia | 7.9% |
| Cedar Springs | 23.3% |
| Comstock Park | 16.3% |
| Cutlerville | 14.2% |
| East Grand Rapids | 1.9% |
| Forest Hills | 2.7% |
| Grand Rapids | 22.5% |
| Grandville | 6.6% |
| Kent City | 18.4% |
| Kentwood | 13.6% |
| Lowell | 4.4% |
| Northview | 10.5% |
| Rockford | 14.4% |
| Sparta | 11.3% |
| Walker | 9.8% |
| Wyoming | 15.5% |
Research & Reports
National Poverty Statistics
Where are the most poverty-stricken areas in your state? We breakdown over 3,000 counties nationwide and show the rank the best and worst communities by poverty rate in your area.
See Poverty Statistics
Michigan Poverty Statistics
Which areas have the highest rate of poverty in Michigan? We breakdown the poverty rate by city and county across Michigan and rank communities with the highest and lowest concentrations of residents living below the poverty line.
Michigan Poverty Statistics
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Food Stamp Recipients in Grand Rapids
How does Grand Rapids compare to the rest of Michigan in receipt of food stamps? We breakdown food benefits programs by city and county across Michigan and rank communities with the highest and lowest concentrations of residents living below the poverty line.
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