Big Rapids is a city located in Mecosta County Michigan. Big Rapids has a 2024 population of 7,969. It is also the county seat of Mecosta County. Big Rapids is currently growing at a rate of 0.72% annually and its population has increased by 2.97% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 7,739 in 2020.
The average household income in Big Rapids is $54,333 with a poverty rate of 35.4%. The median age in Big Rapids is 23 years: 22.5 years for males, and 23.6 years for females.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Big Rapids was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,789 | 86.52% |
| Black or African American | 513 | 6.54% |
| Two or more races | 284 | 3.62% |
| Native American | 128 | 1.63% |
| Asian | 87 | 1.11% |
| Other race | 41 | 0.52% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.06% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Native American
Asian
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2,796 | 2.07 | 40.3 | 59.7 |
| Non Family | 1,820 | 1.6 | 26 | 74 |
| Married | 572 | 3.08 | 79.7 | 20.3 |
| Female | 299 | 2.73 | 45.5 | 54.5 |
| Male | 105 | 2.74 | 58.1 | 41.9 |
2.76
Average Family Size
2.07
Average Household Size
40.3%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 146 | 4.53% |
| Associates Degree | 225 | 6.99% |
| Bachelors Degree | 576 | 17.88% |
| Graduate Degree | 336 | 10.43% |
| High School Graduate | 1,141 | 35.42% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 86 | 2.67% |
| Some College | 711 | 22.07% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 2,952 | 2,764 | 851 |
| Black | 129 | 94 | 0 |
| Hispanic | 84 | 84 | 33 |
| Asian | 41 | 41 | 28 |
| 2+ Races | 35 | 35 | 4 |
| Native American | 9 | 0 | 0 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among asian people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 68.29%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $37,115 | $46,205 | $31,573 |
| Graduate Degree | $63,125 | $64,688 | $60,417 |
| High School Graduate | $30,617 | $35,492 | $22,813 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $12,841 | $13,551 | $0 |
| Overall | $33,309 | $36,304 | $28,953 |
| Some College | $34,476 | $32,000 | $35,903 |
$33,309
Average Earnings
$36,304
Average Male
$28,953
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
96.76% of Big Rapids residents speak only English, while 3.24% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.66% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 5,110 | 1,613 | 31.57% |
| Black | 261 | 228 | 87.36% |
| Native | 97 | 84 | 86.6% |
| Multiple | 204 | 84 | 41.18% |
| Hispanic | 218 | 80 | 36.7% |
| Asian | 60 | 32 | 53.33% |
35.4%
Overall Poverty Rate
38.02%
Male Poverty Rate
32.67%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Big Rapids is Black, with 87.36% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Big Rapids is White, with 31.57% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 9.93%. Among those working part-time, it was 59.79%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 35.69%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 88.46% |
| Some College | 23.24% |
| High School | 20.09% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 9.93% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 81.82% |
| Male Unemployed | 78.33% |
| Female Employed | 34.24% |
| Male Employed | 31.61% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $63,935 | $82,091 |
| Households | $40,197 | $54,333 |
| Married Families | $91,875 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $28,977 | $36,562 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
16.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
15.8%
Male Marriage Rate
18.0%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 45-54, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
241
Number of Veterans
236
Male Veterans
5
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 84 |
| Second Gulf War | 72 |
| First Gulf War | 34 |
| World War II | 6 |
| Korea | 0 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 65 to 74 | 75 |
| 55 to 64 | 66 |
| 18 to 34 | 55 |
| 75+ | 33 |
| 35 to 54 | 12 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 223 | 3.7% |
| Black | 18 | 3.53% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
3.21%
Veteran Poverty Rate
20.64%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.9%
Labor Force Participation
60.3%
Employment Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
80.31%
Born in Big Rapids
98.9%
Native Born
1.1%
Foreign Born
0.28%
Non Citizen
0.82%
Naturalized
98.9% of Big Rapids residents were born in the United States, with 80.31% having been born in Michigan. 0.28% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 8,258 | 58 | 0.71% |
| 2028 | 8,200 | 58 | 0.71% |
| 2027 | 8,142 | 57 | 0.71% |
| 2026 | 8,085 | 58 | 0.72% |
| 2025 | 8,027 | 58 | 0.73% |
| 2024 | 7,969 | 57 | 0.72% |
| 2023 | 7,912 | 43 | 0.55% |
| 2022 | 7,869 | 110 | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 7,759 | 20 | 0.26% |
| 2020 | 7,739 | -2,629 | -25.36% |
| 2019 | 10,368 | 10 | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 10,358 | 16 | 0.15% |
| 2017 | 10,342 | -32 | -0.31% |
| 2016 | 10,374 | 20 | 0.19% |
| 2015 | 10,354 | -60 | -0.58% |
| 2014 | 10,414 | -49 | -0.47% |
| 2013 | 10,463 | -204 | -1.91% |
| 2012 | 10,667 | 27 | 0.25% |
| 2011 | 10,640 | 206 | 1.97% |
| 2010 | 10,434 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 10,849 | -1,754 | -13.92% |
| 1990 | 12,603 | -1,758 | -12.24% |
| 1980 | 14,361 | 2,366 | 19.72% |
| 1970 | 11,995 | 3,309 | 38.1% |
| 1960 | 8,686 | 1,950 | 28.95% |
| 1950 | 6,736 | 1,749 | 35.07% |
| 1940 | 4,987 | 316 | 6.77% |
| 1930 | 4,671 | 113 | 2.48% |
| 1920 | 4,558 | 39 | 0.86% |
| 1910 | 4,519 | -167 | -3.56% |
| 1900 | 4,686 | -617 | -11.63% |
| 1890 | 5,303 | 1,751 | 49.3% |
| 1880 | 3,552 | -4,706 | -56.99% |