The Town FilesGaines, Michigan
Charter township in Kent County · population 28,812 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $325,200
- Household income
- $82,738
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 36.9
Gaines is a charter township of 28,812 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $325,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 90% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 85% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Gaines 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 Gaines is worth $325,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $82,738, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,314 a month. 72.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaines | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,314 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,738 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Gaines
| People | Gaines | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Gaines
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaines since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1967 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 30, 1962.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Gaines itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Gaines
- Cutlerville, MI4.2 mi · 17,849 people · home $222,600
- Leighton, MI5.2 mi · 7,001 people · home $357,900
- Caledonia, MI5.6 mi · 15,811 people · home $382,600
- Kentwood, MI5.6 mi · 54,304 people · home $268,200
- Byron, MI6.1 mi · 26,927 people · home $339,700
- Byron Center, MI6.2 mi · 7,431 people · home $384,400
- Dorr, MI7.8 mi · 3,520 people · home $277,600
- Wyoming, MI7.9 mi · 76,501 people · home $225,200
Gaines questions
Is Gaines, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaines scores better for retirees than 13% of Michigan towns and quieter than 7%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Gaines?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaines is valued at $325,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,738, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,314 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaines?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 77.6 inches of snow.
Does Gaines get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1967. 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)