Grand Rapids vs Holland
Grand Rapids, Michigan versus Holland, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Holland edges out Grand Rapids on overall objective livability (55 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Grand Rapids | Holland |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $69k |
| Cost of Living | $51k | $48k |
| Home Value | $204k | $213k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.12% | 1.33% |
| Income Tax | 5.80% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.47% | 10.37% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | 2.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 72°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6 in | 34.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9 in | 109.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 163 days | 214 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 100 days | 97 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 32.2 | 28.4 |
| Air Quality | 55 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 74.1 | 68.0 |
| Violent Crime | 3086/100k | 2086/100k |
| Property Crime | 3006/100k | 1342/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 198,096 | 34,186 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.56 | 0.44 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 0.95 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+22 |
| White (%) | 58.2% | 64.5% |
| Black (%) | 17.2% | 5.4% |
| Hispanic (%) | 15.9% | 23.9% |
| Asian (%) | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.8% | 3.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 17 min |
| Walkability | 15.4/20 | 8.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 9 mi | 31 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.9% | 88.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 25.14 | 52.07 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Grand Rapids or Holland more affordable?
- Holland has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Grand Rapids's $51k and Holland's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Grand Rapids versus $1k in Holland.
- Is Grand Rapids or Holland safer?
- Holland has the lower violent crime rate. Grand Rapids reports 3086/100k and Holland reports 2086/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Grand Rapids or Holland?
- The median home value is $204k in Grand Rapids and $213k in Holland, so homes are more affordable in Grand Rapids.