Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Riverview leads 12 of 22 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Rent averages $619/mo less ($1,138 vs $1,757)
Homes cost $89k less ($203,900 vs $292,700)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $25,749/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
Snowy winters — about 75" of snow per year
Riverview, FL
Pros
86% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Households earn $25,749 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 31°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Grand Rapids
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$89k less
$203,900 vs $292,700
Riverview
Median Income
$25,749
$87,383 vs $61,634/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
86% lower
131.1 vs 910.1 per 100k
Riverview
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.9°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Grand Rapids is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverview leads 12 of 22 categories. Grand Rapids wins 10 and Riverview wins 12. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $292,700 median home), income ($61,634 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Riverview, FL are about 1,063 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.