Department of Numbers

Grand Rapids Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Grand Rapids, MI (the Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area) was $937 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Grand Rapids was $935 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Grand Rapids median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Grand Rapids rental vacancy rates, Grand Rapids rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Grand Rapids.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Grand Rapids Michigan (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Michigan Median Gross Rent $888 +1.25% +3.62%
Grand Rapids, MI Median Gross Rent $937 +4.81% +10.24%

Grand Rapids, MI Real Gross Rent Trends

At $937, real median gross rent in Grand Rapids was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $935, real average gross rent in Grand Rapids was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent in Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids MI Median, Grand Rapids MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Grand Rapids

Date US
Median
Michigan
Median
Grand Rapids, MI
Median
Grand Rapids, MI
Average
2019 $1,097 $888 $937 $935
2018 $1,077 $877 $894 $912
2017 $1,043 $861 $898 $919
2016 $1,027 $857 $850 $863
2015 $1,017 $852 $842 $885
2014 $986 $832 $838 $850
2013 $953 $809 $801 $831
2012 $940 $796 $777 $800
2011 $941 $798 $772 $784
2010 $955 $816 $780 $793
2009 $960 $816 $781 $798

more history ...

Grand Rapids Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Grand Rapids Michigan was 4.12% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Grand Rapids Michigan

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Michigan 5.56% +0.74% +0.15%
Grand Rapids, MI 4.12% +0.15% +1.73%

Trends in Grand Rapids, MI Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Grand Rapids peaked in 2010 at 9.54%. Since then it has fallen by 5.42% to 4.12%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.39%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.73%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Grand Rapids MI, Michigan, US

Rental vacancy rate in Michigan

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Grand Rapids

Date US Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
2019 5.97% 5.56% 4.12%
2018 6.15% 4.82% 3.97%
2017 6.18% 4.87% 3.23%
2016 5.89% 5.41% 2.39%
2015 5.85% 5.19% 4.60%
2014 6.32% 5.88% 3.90%
2013 6.49% 6.04% 4.36%
2012 6.77% 6.73% 5.22%
2011 7.40% 7.72% 5.08%
2010 8.17% 9.60% 9.54%
2009 8.43% 9.48% 8.60%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Grand Rapids, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Grand Rapids, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.10% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Grand Rapids Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Michigan 17.88% -0.34% -0.82%
Grand Rapids, MI 17.10% +0.47% +0.92%

Trends in Grand Rapids, MI Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Grand Rapids household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.81%. Since then it has fallen by 0.70% to 17.10%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Grand Rapids MI, Michigan, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Grand Rapids Michigan

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Grand Rapids Michigan

Date US Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
2019 20.03% 17.88% 17.10%
2018 20.50% 18.22% 16.63%
2017 20.13% 18.25% 17.05%
2016 20.43% 18.70% 16.18%
2015 20.63% 18.86% 17.18%
2014 20.89% 18.97% 17.52%
2013 20.78% 19.09% 17.40%
2012 20.65% 19.16% 17.29%
2011 20.70% 19.29% 17.30%
2010 20.50% 19.29% 17.81%
2009 20.12% 18.99% 17.43%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Grand Rapids Michigan

You can calculate the renter fraction in Grand Rapids in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Grand Rapids as a fraction of total Grand Rapids households. In 2019 27.68% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Grand Rapids Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Michigan 28.43% -0.38% -1.25%
Grand Rapids, MI 27.68% +1.73% -0.02%

Trends in the Grand Rapids, MI Renter Fraction

The Grand Rapids household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 28.89% and is now 1.21% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Grand Rapids MI, Michigan, US

Fraction of renters in Grand Rapids

History of Grand Rapids Renter Fraction

Date US Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
2019 35.89% 28.43% 27.68%
2018 36.05% 28.81% 25.95%
2017 36.13% 28.67% 26.61%
2016 36.88% 29.68% 27.70%
2015 36.97% 29.58% 27.88%
2014 36.90% 29.76% 28.89%
2013 36.50% 29.45% 27.94%
2012 36.09% 28.94% 28.74%
2011 35.42% 28.26% 27.76%
2010 34.65% 27.25% 26.97%
2009 34.13% 26.81% 25.45%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.