,_paper_mill_plant,_Grand_Rapids,_MN-01.jpg)
Is Grand Rapids, MN a Good Place to Live?
Grand Rapids is a small city of 11,158 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $53,317 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.
Strengths: Grand Rapids stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Grand Rapids is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Grand Rapids city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 96.2Grand Rapids's overall cost of living index is 96.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Grand Rapids costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $188,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $946 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $53,317 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeGrand Rapids's violent crime rate is 88.2 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Grand Rapids is served primarily by GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 17.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 95.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Grand Rapids sees average highs of 18.9°F in January and 79.7°F in July, with 29.4 inches of annual precipitation and 59.6 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MN |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 18.9°F |
| Average High — July | 79.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.6" |
Demographics
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,158 | — |
| Median Age | 43.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 14.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 90.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 24.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: