The Town FilesKent City, Michigan
Village in Kent County · population 1,262 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,200
- Household income
- $76,587
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.4
Kent City is a village of 1,262 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $167,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 79% of Michigan towns, better transit than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Kent City 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 Kent City is worth $167,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $76,587, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. 85.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kent City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $76,587 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Kent City
| People | Kent City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Kent City
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 22, 1961 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 29, 2019.
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 Kent City itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Kent City
3 public schools with 1,207 students, about 19.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent City Elementary School | PK-5 | 554 | 16.8 |
| Kent City High School | 6-12 | 389 | 22.9 |
| Kent City Middle School | 6-8 | 264 | 22.0 |
Towns near Kent City
- Tyrone, MI2.2 mi · 5,021 people · home $238,400
- Casnovia, MI4.4 mi · 2,793 people · home $229,800
- Sparta, MI4.7 mi · 9,395 people · home $231,600
- Sparta, MI5.3 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
- Chester, MI6.2 mi · 2,096 people · home $276,100
- Solon, MI7.1 mi · 6,496 people · home $256,900
- Grant, MI7.9 mi · 952 people · home $157,100
- Algoma, MI8.2 mi · 12,055 people · home $357,600
Kent City questions
Is Kent City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kent City scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 42%. 10.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Kent City?
The median owner-occupied home in Kent City is valued at $167,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,587, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Kent City?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Kent City get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kent City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 22, 1961. 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)