The Town FilesBig Rapids, Michigan
City in Mecosta County · population 7,727 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,400
- Household income
- $43,858
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 22.9
Big Rapids is a city of 7,727 people in Mecosta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $156,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns.
How Big Rapids ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Rapids is worth $156,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $43,858, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 41.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $929 | $955 |
| Median household income | $43,858 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Big Rapids
| People | Big Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Big Rapids
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Rapids since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 17, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 20, 2013.
Severe weather in Mecosta County since 1996
Mecosta County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mecosta County
Mecosta County had 12,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,193 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Big Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Big Rapids
8 public schools with 1,899 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rapids Middle School | 5-8 | 618 | 19.3 |
| Brookside Elementary School | PK-4 | 342 | 18.0 |
| Riverview Elementary School | K-4 | 321 | 17.8 |
| Eastwood Elementary | PK-K | 215 | 17.9 |
| Crossroads Charter Academy K5 (charter) | K-5 | 146 | 18.3 |
| Crossroads Charter Academy 612 (charter) | 6-12 | 144 | 14.4 |
| MecostaOsceola Education Center | PK-12 | 113 | 10.3 |
| MecostaOsceola Career Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Big Rapids
- Big Rapids, MI1.7 mi · 3,917 people · home $256,800
- Green, MI5.1 mi · 3,219 people · home $156,200
- Mecosta, MI6.8 mi · 2,744 people · home $169,600
- Canadian Lakes, MI12.1 mi · 3,202 people · home $270,000
- Morton, MI13.0 mi · 4,426 people · home $252,300
- Reynolds, MI19.4 mi · 5,431 people · home $181,200
- Croton, MI20.7 mi · 3,368 people · home $216,700
- Cato, MI22.1 mi · 2,898 people · home $174,200
Big Rapids questions
Is Big Rapids, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Rapids scores better for retirees than 42% of Michigan towns and quieter than 5%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 22.9).
How much does a house cost in Big Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Rapids is valued at $156,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,858, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Rapids?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 61.3 inches of snow.
Does Big Rapids get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1968. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)