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Living in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is the largest city in West Michigan, built on both banks of the Grand River in Kent County, about 35 miles by road from Lake Michigan at Grand Haven. The Census Bureau estimates 201,183 people lived here in July 2025. City Hall and the downtown core sit on the east bank, with the West Side across the river.

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Quick facts

People in the city
201,183July 1, 2025 Census estimate, up from 198,843 in the April 2020 estimates baseSource
Schools
Grand Rapids Public SchoolsCovers most of the city; edges are in Forest Hills, Kentwood, Godwin Heights, Caledonia, Grandville or Kenowa Hills schools. Check an address with the GRPS Attendance Area FinderSource
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
About 20 minAbout 13 miles from City Hall, no traffic. Estimate
Lake Michigan at Grand Haven
About 50 minAbout 35 miles from City Hall to Grand Haven State Park, no traffic. Estimate
Property tax
About 33 mills2025 total for a homestead in Grand Rapids Public Schools: 33.1249 mills, or 51.1249 mills without the homestead exemption. The city also adds a 1% administration fee to each billSource

Neighborhoods

A to Z

Alger Heights Established

Southeast side neighborhood with an active neighborhood association.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

East Hills Established

Neighborhood around the business district where Cherry Street, Lake Drive and Diamond Avenue meet, just west of Eastown and one of the four Uptown business districts.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

Eastown Established

East side neighborhood around the Lake Drive and Wealthy Street business district, part of Uptown.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

Heritage Hill Established

Historic neighborhood on the hill just east of downtown, with large 19th and early 20th century houses.

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Midtown Established

Residential neighborhood near downtown with its own neighborhood association and the Houseman playground.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

Ottawa Hills Established

Historic southeast side neighborhood established in 1922, bordered by Hall, Giddings, Franklin and Cadillac streets.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

Wealthy Street Established

Historic business district along Wealthy Street SE with restaurants, bars and coffee shops, about a mile from downtown.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

West Grand Established

Large West Side neighborhood bounded by the Grand River, Bridge Street, Bristol Street and the north city limits.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Source
Their site

School assignments come from the GRPS Attendance Area Finder, and a few edges of the city are in other districts. Confirm any address.

Schools

Zones change. Check any address with the district.

Grand Rapids Public Schools: Most of Grand Rapids GRPS Attendance Area Finder

Forest Hills, Kentwood, Godwin Heights, Caledonia, Grandville and Kenowa Hills: Small edges of the city

Grand Rapids Public Schools campuses Source

High schoolsInnovation Central High School
Ottawa Hills High School
Union High School
Grand Rapids Public Museum High School
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Southeast Career Pathways
Grand Rapids Learning Center
Middle and 6 to 12 schoolsBurton Middle School
Ottawa Hills Middle School
Westwood Middle School
Innovation Central Middle School
Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School
City High Middle School
CA Frost Environmental Science Middle High School
Grand Rapids Montessori Middle High School
Southwest Middle High School (Academia Bilingue)
Center for Economicology
Blandford School
Zoo School
Elementary schoolsAberdeen Academy
Brookside Elementary
Buchanan Elementary
Burton Elementary
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary
Campus Elementary
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary
Coit Creative Arts Academy
Congress Elementary
Dickinson Academy
Gerald R. Ford Academic Center
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy
Harrison Park Academy
Kent Hills Elementary
Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy
Mulick Park Elementary
North Park Montessori
Palmer Elementary
Ridgemoor Park Montessori
Shawmut Hills
Sherwood Park Global Studies Academy and Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary
Sibley Elementary
Southwest Elementary (Academia Bilingue)

A normal week here

Pulled from this week's pages

Everything this week in Grand Rapids · Friday nights · The Brunch list · Kids

Property taxes

Per $100 of taxable value
Who taxes itRateSource
Total for a homestead (PRE), Grand Rapids Public Schools33.1249 millsSource
Total without the homestead exemption51.1249 millsSource
School operating tax (charged only without the homestead exemption)18 millsSource
2025 total for a homestead, before the 1% administration fee33.12 mills

Michigan bills property tax by millage: one mill is $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value, and taxable value is usually well below market value (assessed value is half of market value, and taxable value is capped while you own the home). The homestead exemption (Principal Residence Exemption) matters a lot: it removes the 18-mill school operating tax, so file the affidavit with the city assessor when you buy. Grand Rapids sends a summer bill (city, schools, Kent ISD, GRCC, state education tax and more), due July 31, and a winter bill for Kent County, due February 14. The city's 2026 estimator uses 30.931 summer mills plus 3.1255 winter mills for a GRPS homestead, about 34.06 mills.

The basics

Trash, water, power, voting
TrashCity of Grand Rapids pay-per-tip carts: $3.63, $6.05 or $8.47 each time a 32, 64 or 96 gallon cart is emptied. Recycling every other week on your pickup day; yard waste early April to mid December. Find your pickup day
WaterCity of Grand Rapids water and sewer. The property owner or manager opens the account. Start a water account
PowerConsumers Energy supplies electricity. Start Consumers Energy service
VotingGrand Rapids City Clerk runs city elections. Check your registration and polling place at Michigan.gov/Vote. City elections
LibraryGrand Rapids Public Library, Main Library at 111 Library St NE, plus neighborhood branches. Grand Rapids Public Library

The short version

Quick answers

As of Thu Oct 29

How many people live in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

201,183. July 1, 2025 Census estimate, up from 198,843 in the April 2020 estimates base.

What school district is Grand Rapids in?

Grand Rapids Public Schools: Most of Grand Rapids Forest Hills, Kentwood, Godwin Heights, Caledonia, Grandville and Kenowa Hills: Small edges of the city

What is the property tax rate in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

About 33.12 mills per $100 of taxable value, 2025 total for a homestead, before the 1% administration fee, adding up Total for a homestead (PRE), Grand Rapids Public Schools, Total without the homestead exemption, School operating tax (charged only without the homestead exemption). Homestead and other exemptions lower the bill.

What neighborhoods are in Grand Rapids?

Alger Heights, East Hills, Eastown, Heritage Hill, Midtown, Ottawa Hills, Wealthy Street, West Grand.

When is trash pickup in Grand Rapids?

City of Grand Rapids pay-per-tip carts: $3.63, $6.05 or $8.47 each time a 32, 64 or 96 gallon cart is emptied. Recycling every other week on your pickup day; yard waste early April to mid December.

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Also: Living in East Grand Rapids · Living in Holland · Living in Grand Haven