Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Kent County, MI

Welcome to Kent County.

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Kent County is the fourth most populous in the state of Michigan, representing 7% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 29%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $53.6 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Kent County voted four out of six times for Republicans and twice for Democrats.

Kent County comprises Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Grand Rapids.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Allegan County, Barry County, Ionia County, Montcalm County, Muskegon County, Newaygo County, and Ottawa County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
38.13%59.37%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
40.19%58.85%+
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
49.44%48.92%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
45.53%53.22%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
45%48.08%+
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
52.05%45.91%+
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%29%
Government
Enterprises
6%23%
Private Industries94%30%
Agriculture<1%38%
Mining<1%26%
Utilities<1%36%
Construction4%23%
Manufacturing20%18%
– Durable13%14%
– Nondurable7%26%
Trade16%26%
– Wholesale10%19%
– Retail6%38%
Transportation3%67%
Information2%49%
Finance & Insurance7%24%
Real Estate11%59%
Professional &
Business Services
12%31%
Educational Services1%7%
Healthcare &
Social Services
12%28%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%33%
Accommodation &
Food Services
3%30%
Other Services22%32%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers10190
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
7985
📺 Electronics & Appliance5687
🛒 Grocery Stores21092
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores7989
⚕️ Health & Personal Care19592
⛽ Gasoline Stations13791
👕 Clothing Stores21290
👠 Shoe Stores5284
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry4782
🏸 Sporting Goods5387
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1573
🏬 Department Stores13294
💐 Florists1981
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops3782
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 2677
🍺 Bars & Taverns7790
🍽️ Full-service restaurants47093
🍔 Limited-service restaurants52593
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers28190
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation9290
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%121%$306,400 N/A
Top 20%47%$173,100 $172,600
Next highest 20%23%$85,700 $104,300
Middle 20%16%$57,300 $70,000
Second lowest 20%10%$36,500 $46,600
Bottom 20%4%$15,600 $25,700
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries63%$73,800
Self-Employment12%$26,300
Investment Income119%$15,800
Social Security42%$22,500
Supplemental Security7%$10,400
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement33%$26,800
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%3%4%5%
$25K
– $49K
2%6%5%6%
$50K
– $99K
2%13%10%7%
$100K
– $199K
1%12%12%4%
$200K
& more
<1%3%5%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$42,700 $26,600
African-American
Hispanic$33,500
AsianBelow $10,000
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$41,400 $16,300
Highschool & GED$41,800 $29,600
Some College to
Associate’s
$50,700 $28,400
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$63,400 $50,300
Graduate Degree$59,100 $64,000
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$71,000 $52,100
STEM2$100,900 $57,000
Gray-Collar3$53,500
Pink-Collar4$14,500 $14,600
Sales5$44,300 $15,500
Blue-Collar6$42,800 $29,500
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+++$
Drought
Earthquake+$
Hail++$
Heat Waves+++$
Hurricane+
Ice Storm++
Landslide+
Lightning++$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind+++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather+
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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