BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? Grand Rapids, MI

B
Score
65/100
Rank #61 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Grand Rapids is a strong match for retirement if you value typical rent (2br) and typical home value. Overall, it’s above average in this set (#61 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is broadband subscription.

Methodology · Sources · MI rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why Grand Rapids ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,206/mo (16% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $225,500 (35% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 7% (40% lower than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Broadband subscription: 88% (3% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Median household income: $65,526 (13% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
197,768
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,206/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$225,500
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
13%
National median: 14%
Median age
32
National median: —
Median household income
$65,526
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
88%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
86/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
18/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
88/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
93/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

11%
Less than HS
49%
HS / Some college
26%
Bachelor’s
14%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

13%
Age 65+
87%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

88%
Broadband
12%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,206/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$225,500
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
13%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$65,526
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
88%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
7%

Similar cities (by score)

#59 Port St. Lucie, FL
65/100
#60 Peoria, AZ
65/100
#62 Cape Coral, FL
65/100
#63 Chesapeake, VA
64/100

FAQ

›What is Grand Rapids’s retirement score and rank?
Grand Rapids, MI scores B (65/100) and ranks #61 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Grand Rapids city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Grand Rapids, MI?
Population is about 197,768 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Grand Rapids, MI?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in Grand Rapids, MI?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,206/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $225,500 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in Grand Rapids, MI?
Age 65+ share is 13% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in Grand Rapids, MI?
Broadband subscription is 88% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Grand Rapids, MI?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 11%, HS/some college 49%, bachelor’s 26%, advanced 14%.
›Where does this data come from for Grand Rapids, MI?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).