If you’re looking for big-city energy with small-town charm, Grand Rapids, Mich. fits the bill. The second largest city in Michigan with a population of just under 200,000, it has a vibrant downtown that is close to nature and the lakes that make Michigan the Great Lakes State.
With a mix of arts and culture, breweries, restaurants, and outdoor activities, it’s no wonder Grand Rapids also has a thriving job market across industries. If you’re looking for a city where you can work and live comfortably, here are 8 reasons to consider Grand Rapids:
Why You Should Consider Living in Grand Rapids
1. Affordable cost of living
The cost of living in Grand Rapids is 8% lower than the national average — things like groceries, transportation, and housing are all priced below the national average. The average home price in Grand Rapids sits at $284,652, while the average monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment is $1,319 (14% below the national average).
2. Close to nature
Grand Rapids sits on the Grand River — it runs through the heart of the city. The river also runs through Millennium Park, one of America’s largest urban parks with 1,400 acres connecting Grand Rapids, Walker, Grandville, and Wyoming. The park has a beachfront and 18 miles of trails within its confines. Thirty miles west lies Lake Michigan and the beach towns of Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and Saugatuck.
3. Access to culture
Grand Rapids has a diverse arts and culture scene made up of museums, galleries, events, and more. Whether you’re interested in art, history, science, or nature, Grand Rapids has a museum that covers it. There are also orchestra, ballet, and other performing arts companies within the city and multiple annual events that celebrate arts and culture on a large scale.
Top Things to Do in Grand Rapids
4. Enjoy Grand Rapids’ breweries
With the title of Beer City USA, it’s no surprise that Grand Rapids has more than 40 breweries on its Beer City Ale Trail. Each brewery has its own unique style of beer, ranging from IPAs to Belgian-style, many of which have won national and international awards.
5. Explore events going on in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has a variety of annual events that take place throughout the year. The year kicks off with the World of Winter festival which runs from January to March (and helps people get out and enjoy the colder months of the year). The festival has more than 100 art installations, plus events and activities for any age.
LaughFest is the world’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter and is held every spring. In the past, the festival has had comedy legends like Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Hart, and Jay Leno, to name a few. The Festival of the Arts happens every June and showcases almost every discipline of the arts from visual art, dance, music, film, literature, and design. Finally, the Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt debuted last year and is set to return this November with a traditional European-style Christmas village in downtown Grand Rapids.
6. Check out the annual ArtPrize in Grand Rapids
Launched in 2009, ArtPrize is the world’s most-attended public art event, bringing approximately 500,000 people to Grand Rapids each September. The event hosts hundreds of global artists and their work across the city’s downtown area, thereby transforming it into an immersive art gallery for two weeks every year.
Working in Grand Rapids
7. Thriving job market
Grand Rapids was ranked 17 out of 55 on the Wall Street Journal’s list of cities with the hottest job markets for 2023. The city was also ranked number 45 on U.S News and World Report’s Best Place to Live in the US list, calling out Grand Rapids’ healthier job market compared to similarly sized metro areas. So, it’s safe to say the job market in Grand Rapids is indeed thriving.
8. Lively tech scene
Each September, The Right Place organizes Tech Week Grand Rapids, an unconference that hosts various events to promote the region's tech industry. And while Tech Week might be the region’s marquee event on innovation, the tech community in Grand Rapids is best described as inclusive and collaborative.
“Leaders have a passion far beyond the companies that they lead,” Jennifer Wangler, Vice President of Technology at The Right Place, says. “Everyone’s egos are checked at the door.”
The Greater Grand Rapids tech community is only growing thanks to the region’s Tech Strategy which aims to add 20,000 jobs and make tech 10% of the region’s economy by 2031.
Great tech companies in Grand Rapids
Looking for a job in Grand Rapids? Check out these tech startups hiring now:
- Ludus is moving to Grand Rapids later this year and is an all-in-one platform for performing arts events ticketing, marketing, fundraising, and volunteer management needs.
- DecentraCare was founded in 2022 and takes a market-based approach to healthcare services and products. The company’s software platform connects organizations and individuals with healthcare solutions through transparent ratings and pricing.
- Mutually Human offers a comprehensive range of services designed to help solve critical business challenges, with a focus on AI and emerging technologies.
- NuWave Technology Partners provides managed IT solutions and security and technology services to help businesses run their operations smoothly.
