49512 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
49512
49508
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 10%
vs30 · Bottom 9%
Growth
44 · Bottom 40%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Climate
62 · Bottom 23%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 5%
vs94 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 46%
vs80 · Top 50%
Schools
65 · Top 33%
vs52 · Top 49%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
78 · Top 15%
vs67 · Top 36%
Measured values
| Metric | 49512 | 49508 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,373 | 42,720 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,329 | $70,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $42,915 | $33,638 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 798/sq mi | 3,628/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $314,900 | $281,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,249 | $1,264 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 43.0% | 60.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.4% | -7.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.7% | 34.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 119 | 119 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 54.5% | 54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.4" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 2 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 22.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.1 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.21 | 17.30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 42.9% | 34.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 58.4% | 46.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 59.5% | 73.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: 49512 — Kentwood, MI · 49508 — Kentwood, MI · How this is calculated: methodology