2025 Compare Cities People:
Des Moines, IA vs Grand Rapids, MI

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Highlights
- Grand Rapids is 0% more densely populated than Des Moines.
- People are 6.4% less likely to be married in Grand Rapids.
- The Median Age is 2.7 years younger in Grand Rapids.
 Des Moines, IAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Population  Unlock197,858329,725,481
 Female Population50.9%  Unlock50.5%
 Male Population49.1%  Unlock49.5%
 Median Age  Unlock31.538.4
 space3
 Population - 2010205,042  Unlock309,327,143
 Population - 2000  Unlock197,800285,036,114
 Population - 1990193,187  Unlock251,960,433
 Pop. 2000 to Now  Unlock1.1%15.6%
 Pop. 1990 to Now9.9%  Unlock30.8%
 space4
 Population Density  Unlock4,453.193.4
 Land Area88.2  Unlock3,531,905.4
 Water Area  Unlock0.9264,836.8
 space
 Est. Total Population By Age
 Des Moines, IAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Age 0 to 47.0%  Unlock5.9%
 Age 5 to 9  Unlock6.1%6.1%
 Age 10 to 146.6%  Unlock6.6%
 Age 15 to 17  Unlock3.7%3.9%
 Age 18 to 204.6%  Unlock4.0%
 Age 21 to 24  Unlock8.5%5.2%
 Age 25 to 3416.7%  Unlock13.8%
 Age 35 to 44  Unlock11.6%12.9%
 Age 45 to 5411.9%  Unlock12.6%
 Age 55 to 59  Unlock5.4%6.7%
 Age 60 to 645.4%  Unlock6.3%
 Age 65 to 74  Unlock7.4%9.6%
 Age 75 to 843.0%  Unlock4.5%
 Age 85 and over  Unlock1.8%1.9%
 space1
 Race
 Des Moines, IAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 White63.5%  Unlock59.4%
 Black  Unlock17.8%12.2%
 Asian7.1%  Unlock5.6%
 Native American  Unlock0.3%0.6%
 Hawaiian, Pacific Islander0.0%  Unlock0.2%
 Other  Unlock0.4%0.4%
 Two or More Races3.6%  Unlock3.2%
 Hispanic  Unlock15.7%18.4%
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 Marriage & Family
 Des Moines, IAGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Married Population41.9%  Unlock49.8%
     Currently Married  Unlock38.1%48.0%
 Married but Separated2.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Single Population  Unlock60.7%50.2%
 Never Married39.5%  Unlock33.8%
 Divorced  Unlock10.5%10.8%
 Widowed5.5%  Unlock5.6%
 space5
 Household Size  Unlock2.472.60
 Households86,992  Unlock124,010,992
 Family Households  Unlock42,34880,755,759
     Married couple, w/children28.9%  Unlock30.5%
     Married couple, no children  Unlock38.2%42.9%
 Non Family Households38,831  Unlock43,255,233
     Single householder, w/children  Unlock22.1%15.8%
     Single householder, no children11.2%  Unlock10.8%
Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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Reviews for Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

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Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

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Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

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