Big Rapids is a city and the seat of government of Mecosta County, Michigan, United States. The population was 7,727 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 8,565 in 2024, The city is surrounded by Big Rapids Charter Township but they are completely separate jurisdictions. Big Rapids is home of the main campus of Ferris State University, a four-year public university.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Big Rapids ranks

All →

#97Shortest commute in MI #208Most educated in MI #168Most new homes in MI All MI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code49307

Area code231

Living in Big Rapids

Housing in Big Rapids

$227K▲ 6.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Big Rapids home is worth about $227,000, up 6.7% in a year, 15% below the Michigan typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Big Rapids

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Most working residents leave Big Rapids for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Big Rapids (24%), Grand Rapids (9%) and Reed City (3%). Half commute less than 39 miles.

Big Rapids

24%

Grand Rapids

Reed City

Mecosta

7%Work in townlive and work in Big Rapids 39 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,774Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Big Rapids →

Health in Big Rapids

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 44% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 64% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Michigan

2better than MI·7worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 2▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs 1▼ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.8%Fewer adults who have had cancerMI 8.9% · better 32.4%Fewer adults with high blood pressureMI 36.7% · better 14%More older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · worse

Care nearby

Corewell Health Big Rapids HospitalBig Rapids · 1.6 mi · ER

Family Health Care - Big RapidsBig Rapids · 0.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP code 49307 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Big Rapids →

Natural hazards in Big Rapids

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 79% of U.S. communities.

💨 Strong wind🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

13Does Big Rapids flood?paid flood claims since 1986 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 11 declared for Mecosta County MapBig Rapids vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Big Rapids →

Climate in Big Rapids

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Big Rapids has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 61 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 16°Winter

55° / 32°Spring

79° / 54°Summer

58° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Big Rapids get?About 61 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 2, with the last in spring around May 13.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Big Rapids →

Schools in Big Rapids

All Big Rapids schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Big Rapids’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 54% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#179Best public schoolsof 490 in MI

DistrictBig Rapids Public SchoolsSchools2

Big Rapids High School B+High · Grades 9–12 · 755 students Big Rapids Virtual School C-Other · Grades K–12 · 115 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.