Who moves to Grand Rapids, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Kent County, MI, home of Grand Rapids, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 23,140from other US counties
- Moved out
- 24,750to other US counties
- Net
- −1,610more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 151tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Ottawa County, MI | 3,694 |
| Allegan County, MI | 909 |
| Montcalm County, MI | 810 |
| Muskegon County, MI | 798 |
| Kalamazoo County, MI | 691 |
| Oakland County, MI (Troy) | 683 |
| Barry County, MI | 615 |
| Ionia County, MI | 593 |
| Newaygo County, MI | 523 |
| Ingham County, MI (Lansing) | 521 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 515 |
| Wayne County, MI (Detroit) | 466 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Ottawa County, MI | 4,720 |
| Allegan County, MI | 1,226 |
| Montcalm County, MI | 1,080 |
| Barry County, MI | 960 |
| Muskegon County, MI | 920 |
| Ionia County, MI | 887 |
| Newaygo County, MI | 690 |
| Oakland County, MI (Troy) | 595 |
| Kalamazoo County, MI | 506 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 471 |
| Wayne County, MI (Detroit) | 413 |
| Ingham County, MI (Lansing) | 352 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 14,569 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Michigan and 8,571 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Oakland County, MI (Troy) | 683 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 515 |
| Wayne County, MI (Detroit) | 466 |
| Washtenaw County, MI (Ann Arbor) | 259 |
| Berrien County, MI | 224 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 219 |
| Macomb County, MI (Warren) | 212 |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 200 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Oakland County, MI (Troy) | 595 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 471 |
| Wayne County, MI (Detroit) | 413 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 258 |
| Washtenaw County, MI (Ann Arbor) | 209 |
| Macomb County, MI (Warren) | 200 |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 178 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 144 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Grand Rapids come from?
Most people moving into Kent County, MI come from nearby counties, led by Ottawa County, MI (3,694 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Oakland County, MI.
Where do people leaving Grand Rapids move to?
The top destination is Ottawa County, MI (4,720 people). Farther away, the most popular is Oakland County, MI.
Are more people moving to Grand Rapids or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 23,140 people moved into Kent County, MI from elsewhere in the US and 24,750 moved out, a net loss of 1,610 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Grand Rapids with any city it trades people with, like Grand Rapids vs Troy, Grand Rapids vs Chicago, Grand Rapids vs Detroit, Grand Rapids vs Ann Arbor.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Grand Rapids.