What is the rental vacancy rate in Big Rapids, MI?

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

The rental vacancy rate in Big Rapids, MI is 10.6% (±6.3 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

The homeowner vacancy rate is 2.2% (±3.4 points).

477 (±191) homes, 13.2% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.

In Big Rapids, the rental vacancy rate went from 8.7% in 2015–2019 to 10.6% in 2020–2024 (+1.9 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Rental vacancy rate: 10.6% (±6.3 points)
Homeowner vacancy rate: 2.2% (±3.4 points)
Vacant homes: 477 (±191)

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

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Big Rapids	Mecosta County	Michigan	United States
Rental vacancy rate	10.6% (±6.3 points)	6.5% (±3.4 points)	5.1% (±0.2 points)	5.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.2% (±3.4 points)	0.5% (±0.4 points)	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.9%
Vacant housing units	477 (±191)	4,431 (±375)	545,867 (±7,991)	14,547,859

The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.

In Big Rapids, the rental vacancy rate is not measurably different from Mecosta County (6.5%).

It is not measurably different from Michigan (5.1%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (5.5%).

Rental vacancy rate in places near Big Rapids

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Big Rapids
Place	Distance	Rental vacancy rate	Compared with this place
Big Rapids	—	10.6% (±6.3 points)	—
Big Rapids Charter Township	1.7 mi	6.8% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Green Charter Township	5.1 mi	0.0% (±17.5 points)	Not measurably different
Colfax Township (Mecosta County)	5.4 mi	4.4% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Mecosta Township	6.8 mi	0.0% (±13.4 points)	Not measurably different
Grant Township (Mecosta County)	7.2 mi	0.0% (±55.9 points)	Not measurably different
Norwich Township (Newaygo County)	7.7 mi	0.0% (±76.1 points)	Not measurably different
Stanwood	8.4 mi	0.0% (±95.0 points)	Not measurably different
Austin Township (Mecosta County)	8.8 mi	0.0% (±41.6 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

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

Rental vacancy rate across Mecosta County, place by place

Rank	Place	Rental vacancy rate
1	Big Rapids	10.6% (±6.3 points)
2	Big Rapids Charter Township	6.8% (±6.5 points)
3	Colfax Township (Mecosta County)	4.4% (±5.7 points)
4 (tie)	Aetna Township (Mecosta County)	0.0% (±33.9 points)
4 (tie)	Austin Township (Mecosta County)	0.0% (±41.6 points)
4 (tie)	Chippewa Township (Mecosta County)	0.0% (±36.3 points)
4 (tie)	Deerfield Township (Mecosta County)	0.0% (±23.0 points)

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

Is it hard to find a rental in Big Rapids?

The rental vacancy rate in Big Rapids, MI is 10.6% (±6.3 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.

Is the rental market in Big Rapids tighter than it was?

In Big Rapids, the rental vacancy rate went from 8.7% in 2015–2019 to 10.6% in 2020–2024 (+1.9 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How many homes are vacant in Big Rapids?

An estimated 477 (±191) housing units, 13.2% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.

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) 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 DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM

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.