Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Grand Rapids, MI
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Grand Rapids
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $59,625 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($203,900 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $609/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,747)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $59,625/yr
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$59,625
$121,259 vs $61,634/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
88% lower
106.4 vs 910.1 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.4°F
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$186k less
$203,900 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Grand Rapids, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $203,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,138 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $61,634 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 240⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 30.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 39.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 74.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 198,096 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Grand Rapids's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Grand Rapids wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Grand Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $203,900 median home), income ($121,259 vs $61,634), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Grand Rapids, MI are about 905 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.