The Town FilesKentwood, Michigan
City in Kent County · population 54,304 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,200
- Household income
- $74,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.1
Kentwood is a city of 54,304 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $268,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 96% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Kentwood 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 Kentwood is worth $268,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $74,373, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,260 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kentwood | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,260 | $955 |
| Median household income | $74,373 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Kentwood
| People | Kentwood | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Kentwood
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 Kentwood since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 371 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 20, 2003.
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 Kentwood itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Kentwood
- East Grand Rapids, MI4.3 mi · 11,371 people · home $521,300
- Cutlerville, MI5.2 mi · 17,849 people · home $222,600
- Cascade, MI5.2 mi · 19,667 people · home $472,500
- Gaines, MI5.6 mi · 28,812 people · home $325,200
- Wyoming, MI5.8 mi · 76,501 people · home $225,200
- Grand Rapids, MI6.2 mi · 198,917 people · home $244,500
- Forest Hills, MI7.4 mi · 28,573 people · home $498,500
- Grand Rapids, MI7.4 mi · 18,905 people · home $426,600
Kentwood questions
Is Kentwood, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kentwood scores better for retirees than 6% of Michigan towns and quieter than 3%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Kentwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Kentwood is valued at $268,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,373, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,260 a month.
What is the weather like in Kentwood?
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 Kentwood get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kentwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)