Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 16 of 22 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Median income trails Kenosha by $3,329/yr
Kenosha, WI
Pros
69% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $3,329 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Grand Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$3,329
$64,963 vs $61,634/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
69% lower
285.7 vs 910.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 31.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 36.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 16 of 22 categories. Grand Rapids wins 6 and Kenosha wins 16. 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 Grand Rapids to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $194,400 median home), income ($61,634 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Kenosha, WI are about 116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.