East Grand Rapids, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

East Grand Rapids is a small city located in Michigan, within Kent County. The total population is 11,445. It ranks as the 91st most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in East Grand Rapids is 37.0 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 33.2% of the population under 18, East Grand Rapids has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in East Grand Rapids is $166,610. This is 129% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 106% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.6%. This is 73% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $521,300. Housing costs are 125% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 93.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

East Grand Rapids has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

79.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places East Grand Rapids in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 146% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.1%. Notably, 43.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for East Grand Rapids, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.