Big Rapids city, Michigan
Big Rapids city profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Big Rapids city is a geographic entity located in Mecosta County, Michigan. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 8,623. The land area covers 4.45 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 8,623 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 22.9 yrs | ±0.6 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 3,133 | ±201 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 3,610 | ±222 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 3,133 | ±201 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 477 | ±191 |
| Median Home Value | $156,400 | ±$10,062 |
| Median Gross Rent | $929 | ±$68 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $43,858 | ±$4,640 |
| Per Capita Income | $23,446 | ±$2,497 |
| Poverty Rate | 34.1% | ±4.8% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 2,216 | ±314 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | ±1.6% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 4,673 | ±314 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 82.3% | ±4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 8,565 (2024)
ID: 194781
|
Municipal | Official Local Government |
Contact: MAYOR
226 N MICHIGAN AVE, BIG RAPIDS MI 49307-1489
|
|
GUS Population: 41,947 (2024)
ID: 185876
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: CONTROLLER/ADMINISTRATOR
400 ELM ST, BIG RAPIDS MI 49307-1816
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | PARIS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 05-08 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Alternative School Nearby | KG-12 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-12 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Special Education School Nearby | PK | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-KG | BIG RAPIDS, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | EVART, MI |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 3 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
COREWELL HEALTH BIG RAPIDS HOSPITAL
|
Hospital | City address association | 605 OAK STREET, BIG RAPIDS, MI, 49307 |
(231) 796-8691
|
|
Ferris State University
|
College | 0.8 mi away | 1201 S State St, Big Rapids, MI, 49307-2251 |
2315912000
|
|
BIG RAPIDS COMMUNITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 0.4 mi away | 426 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, BIG RAPIDS, MI, 49307 |
(231) 796-5234
|
|
CHIPPEWA BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 9.8 mi away | 19171 4TH STREET, CHIPPEWA LAKE, MI, 49320 |
(231) 867-2014
|
|
WALTON ERICKSON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.3 mi away | 4808 NORTHLAND DRIVE, MORLEY, MI, 49336 |
(231) 856-4298
|
|
REED CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.6 mi away | 829 SOUTH CHESTNUT STREET, REED CITY, MI, 49677 |
(231) 832-2131
|
|
MORTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.8 mi away | 110 SOUTH JAMES STREET, MECOSTA, MI, 49332 |
(231) 972-8315
|
|
CHASE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 15.2 mi away | 8400 EAST NORTH STREET, CHASE, MI, 49623 |
(231) 832-9511
|
|
BARRYTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.2 mi away | 198 NORTHERN AVENUE, BARRYTON, MI, 49305 |
(989) 382-5288
|
|
EVART PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.8 mi away | 105 NORTH MAIN STREET, EVART, MI, 49631 |
(231) 734-5542
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at BIG RAPIDS WTP, MI US, located 0.5 miles from Big Rapids city. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.2° | 12.7° | 20.4° | 2.43" | 17.8" |
| February | 31.4° | 12.2° | 21.8° | 1.97" | 16.0" |
| March | 42.0° | 19.8° | 30.9° | 2.57" | 7.7" |
| April | 54.8° | 30.9° | 42.9° | 3.95" | 1.5" |
| May | 67.6° | 43.2° | 55.4° | 3.76" | 0.0" |
| June | 77.2° | 53.0° | 65.1° | 3.36" | 0.0" |
| July | 81.3° | 57.1° | 69.2° | 3.48" | 0.0" |
| August | 79.0° | 55.0° | 67.0° | 4.24" | 0.0" |
| September | 71.6° | 46.9° | 59.3° | 3.02" | 0.0" |
| October | 58.1° | 36.3° | 47.2° | 3.76" | 0.2" |
| November | 44.1° | 27.5° | 35.8° | 3.05" | 3.8" |
| December | 33.2° | 19.3° | 26.3° | 2.33" | 14.3" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids city | City | 0.0 mi | — |
| Paris CDP | CDP | 5.8 mi | — |
| Stanwood village | Village | 8.4 mi | — |
| Hersey village | Village | 10.7 mi | — |
| Canadian Lakes CDP | CDP | 11.9 mi | — |
| Reed City city | City | 12.0 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 2610708300. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.