What is the median household income in Big Rapids, MI?

Name: Income and affordability in Big Rapids, MI, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The median household income in Big Rapids, MI is $43,858 (±$4,640) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $929 a month would take about $37,200 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Big Rapids, the median household income went from $26,227 in 2015–2019 to $43,858 in 2020–2024 (+67.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $43,858 (±$4,640)
Median renter income: $30,709 (±$6,722)
Income to afford median rent: about $37,200

Income in Big Rapids against Mecosta County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Big Rapids	Mecosta County	Michigan	United States
Median household income	$43,858 (±$4,640)	$60,951 (±$2,088)	$72,875 (±$293)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$30,709 (±$6,722)	$33,794 (±$4,377)	$42,352 (±$376)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$62,865 (±$9,761)	$69,853 (±$2,638)	$87,130 (±$344)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$929 (±$68)	$934 (±$42)	$1,129 (±$4)	$1,413

In Big Rapids, median household income is lower than in Mecosta County ($60,951).

It is also lower than in Michigan ($72,875).

It is lower than the national figure ($80,734).

In Mecosta County, Big Rapids ranks 17 of 17 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 1452 of 1,517.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How much you need to earn to rent in Big Rapids

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $929 a month ($11,148 a year) needs an income of about $37,200 a year.

The median renting household in Big Rapids earns $30,709 a year, less than that.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$26,227 (±$4,203)	$43,858 (±$4,640)	+67.2%	Up after inflation
Median gross rent	$670 (±$100)	$929 (±$68)	+38.7%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$93,900 (±$5,920)	$156,400 (±$10,062)	+66.6%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median household income in places near Big Rapids

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Big Rapids
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Big Rapids	—	$43,858 (±$4,640)	—
Big Rapids Charter Township	1.7 mi	$64,083 (±$6,266)	Higher
Green Charter Township	5.1 mi	$82,955 (±$9,928)	Higher
Colfax Township (Mecosta County)	5.4 mi	$87,935 (±$13,245)	Higher
Mecosta Township	6.8 mi	$61,250 (±$21,516)	Not measurably different
Grant Township (Mecosta County)	7.2 mi	$66,750 (±$7,967)	Higher
Norwich Township (Newaygo County)	7.7 mi	$80,625 (±$17,604)	Higher
Stanwood	8.4 mi	$54,632 (±$11,544)	Not measurably different
Austin Township (Mecosta County)	8.8 mi	$64,375 (±$10,938)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Big Rapids Charter Township, MI ($64,083), Green Charter Township, MI ($82,955), Colfax Township (Mecosta County), MI ($87,935).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median household income across Mecosta County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
11	Chippewa Township (Mecosta County)	$59,107 (±$15,172)
12	Deerfield Township (Mecosta County)	$57,898 (±$13,005)
13	Fork Township	$56,161 (±$8,241)
14	Wheatland Township (Mecosta County)	$55,000 (±$14,755)
15	Martiny Township	$51,875 (±$10,653)
16	Sheridan Township (Mecosta County)	$49,800 (±$10,483)
17	Big Rapids	$43,858 (±$4,640)

Showing 7 of 17 places in Mecosta County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Big Rapids

What is the median household income in Big Rapids?

The median household income in Big Rapids is $43,858 (±$4,640) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Big Rapids?

About $37,200 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $929 a month.

Have incomes in Big Rapids kept up with inflation?

In Big Rapids, the median household income went from $26,227 in 2015–2019 to $43,858 in 2020–2024 (+67.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

What do renters earn in Big Rapids?

The median renting household in Big Rapids, MI earns $30,709 (±$6,722) a year.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Big Rapids city, Michigan (place:08300, in state:26).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.