Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Opportunity
44 · Bottom 26%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Growth
22 · Bottom 9%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
63 · Bottom 36%
vs62 · Bottom 34%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 26%
vs93 · Top 3%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 47%
vs95 · Top 38%
Access
93 · Top 30%
vs98 · Top 13%
Economic stability
82 · Top 16%
vs88 · Top 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,371,595 | 1,162,152 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,887 | $82,874 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,513 | $41,561 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,354/sq mi | 358/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $323,000 | $285,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,430 | $1,202 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.5% | 74.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.6% | -7.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 36.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 9.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 14,539 | 4,012 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 3.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -20.5% | 4.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.4" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 36.8 | 2024 ACS 5-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.
Your best match
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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
67
Your Score
63
Area Score
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
75
Your Score
71
Area Score
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Full profiles: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology