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Big Rapids

A city of 8,477 people in Michigan
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Now in Big Rapids

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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it Big Rapids

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Outdoors in Big Rapids

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Map of Big Rapids: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk
Conserved land5.5%159 of 2,904 acres
Trails4.3 mi1 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves1319 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know Big Rapids

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Big Rapids

City in Michigan, United States
1855Established
7,727Population
4.5 sq miArea
925 ftElevation

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)

Town numbers

ZIP code49307
Area code231
Living in Big Rapids

Housing in Big Rapids

$198K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $198,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s
Days on market17
Sale-to-list99.6%
Sold in May10
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Big Rapids

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Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Big Rapids's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000
Big Rapids 4.4
Michigan 4.3
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Big Rapids 13.2
Michigan 13
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Schools in Big Rapids

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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.

#174Best public schoolsof 490 in MI
DistrictBig Rapids Public SchoolsSchools11

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.

Famous people from Big RapidsWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Big Rapids.Meet them →

How things work in Big Rapids

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Big Rapids

Michigan · MI
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01