HousingPermits

Metro area in Michigan · part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI combined area

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI

The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood metro area authorized 4,267 new housing units in 2025. Its 2025 total reached 62% of the 2004 high, the closest to a series peak among the 15 metro areas based in Michigan. Per 1,000 residents it authorized 3.5 units a year in 2021–2025, 74% of the national rate of 4.7.

02,0004,0006,0008,0002004: 6,895 units (5,679 single-family, 339 in 2–4 unit, 877 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,837 units (5,203 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 512 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,295 units (3,638 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 564 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,892 units (2,367 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 427 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,749 units (1,488 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 241 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,226 units (1,152 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 58 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,299 units (1,255 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,512 units (1,328 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 170 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,065 units (1,726 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,343 units (2,124 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 169 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,224 units (2,326 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 823 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,731 units (2,554 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 1,106 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,802 units (2,734 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 1,949 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,932 units (3,046 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 1,824 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,970 units (2,865 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 903 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,367 units (2,743 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 1,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,624 units (2,698 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 822 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,938 units (3,044 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 674 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 4,393 units (2,683 single-family, 269 in 2–4 unit, 1,441 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,754 units (2,556 single-family, 247 in 2–4 unit, 951 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 3,861 units (2,415 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 1,352 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 4,267 units (2,558 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 1,571 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 6,8952009 low · 1,22602,5005,0007,5002004: 6,895 units (5,679 single-family, 339 in 2–4 unit, 877 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 5,837 units (5,203 single-family, 122 in 2–4 unit, 512 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 4,295 units (3,638 single-family, 93 in 2–4 unit, 564 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 2,892 units (2,367 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 427 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 1,749 units (1,488 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 241 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 1,226 units (1,152 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 58 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 1,299 units (1,255 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 31 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 1,512 units (1,328 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 170 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 2,065 units (1,726 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 2,343 units (2,124 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 169 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 3,224 units (2,326 single-family, 75 in 2–4 unit, 823 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 3,731 units (2,554 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 1,106 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 4,802 units (2,734 single-family, 119 in 2–4 unit, 1,949 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 4,932 units (3,046 single-family, 62 in 2–4 unit, 1,824 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 3,970 units (2,865 single-family, 202 in 2–4 unit, 903 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 4,367 units (2,743 single-family, 187 in 2–4 unit, 1,437 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 3,624 units (2,698 single-family, 104 in 2–4 unit, 822 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 3,938 units (3,044 single-family, 220 in 2–4 unit, 674 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 4,393 units (2,683 single-family, 269 in 2–4 unit, 1,441 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 3,754 units (2,556 single-family, 247 in 2–4 unit, 951 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 3,861 units (2,415 single-family, 94 in 2–4 unit, 1,352 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 4,267 units (2,558 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 1,571 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 6,895

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its population grew 2.8% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest growth among the 15 metro areas based in Michigan.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Buffalo, Rochester, NY, Urban Honolulu. Annual permits fell from 6,895 during the mid-2000s boom to 1,226 in 2009, a drop of 82%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Canton's (83%). The 2021–2025 pace of 4,043 units a year is 29% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 8 years in a row up to 2017. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 10%.

Where in the metro

Kent County accounted for 53% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Ottawa County for 35%.

  • Kent County53% (2,398 in 2025)
  • Ottawa County35% (1,411 in 2025)
  • Montcalm County4.7% (201 in 2025)
  • Barry County4.5% (157 in 2025)
  • Ionia County2.4% (100 in 2025)

The wider Grand Rapids-Wyoming region

The Census Bureau groups Grand Rapids with one neighboring metro area in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 4,455 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Grand Rapids accounted for 91%. The other, with its yearly average: Muskegon (412).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 65 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Grand Rapids, with 2,675 units or 13% of the total, followed by Cascade charter township with 1,551. Among the three largest, Grand Rapids put 82% of its units in five-plus buildings, Cascade charter township 0%.

  • Grand Rapids13% (2,675 units)
  • Cascade charter township7.7% (1,551 units)
  • Wyoming7.1% (1,438 units)
  • Holland charter township5.9% (1,189 units)
  • Grand Haven charter township4.8% (974 units)
  • Georgetown charter township4.3% (865 units)
  • Holland4% (813 units)
  • Gaines charter township4% (807 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Houses or apartments

In Grand Rapids, 66% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 30% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Charlotte (30% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 12%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2016 (1,949), single-family houses in 2004 (5,679).

2021–202565.6%66%4.8%29.6%30%2004–200685.3%85%3.3%11.5%11%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.6%66%4.8%29.6%30%2004–200685.3%85%3.3%11.5%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Fresno, CA3,5183.612%
Birmingham, AL4,2193.318%
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI4,2673.530%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT1,5041.558%
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY1,4841.231%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Grand Rapids beside Hartford

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Michigan. Counting rules.