Grand Rapids is a large and varied housing market rather than one uniform roofing market. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey counted 84,894 housing units: 54.0% of occupied units were owner occupied, 56.2% of all units were detached homes and 59.5% of the housing stock was built before 1960. Those figures provide market context, not an average roof price.
A broad regional market
Grand Rapids contains more than 22 times as many housing units as East Grand Rapids. That scale creates more total roofing opportunity, but the inventory includes detached houses, attached homes, duplexes, apartment buildings and large multi-unit properties. A citywide roofing statistic therefore combines buildings with very different ownership, geometry and project scopes.
Grand Rapids housing profile
| 2020-2024 ACS estimate | Grand Rapids | East Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 84,894 | 3,861 |
| Occupied housing units | 80,222 | 3,797 |
| Owner-occupied units | 43,351 | 3,566 |
| Owner-occupied share | 54.0% | 93.9% |
| One-unit detached share | 56.2% | 96.7% |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $244,500 | $521,300 |
| Median household income | $69,108 | $166,610 |
Detached homes are only part of the inventory
The ACS estimates 47,689 one-unit detached homes in Grand Rapids. Another 4,524 units are attached single units, and more than 32,000 are in structures containing two or more units. This distinction matters because one owner may control a detached roof, while an attached or multi-unit roof may involve a landlord, condominium association or commercial decision process.
Roof EGR does not convert those housing units into a claim about annual roofing sales. Replacement timing depends on roof age, material, maintenance, storm exposure, ownership decisions and the condition of each structure.
Grand Rapids has both very old and newer housing
| Year structure built | Housing units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 31,837 | 37.5% |
| 1940-1959 | 18,647 | 22.0% |
| 1960-1979 | 13,753 | 16.2% |
| 1980-1999 | 11,285 | 13.3% |
| 2000 or later | 9,372 | 11.0% |
Approximately 37.5% of Grand Rapids housing predates 1940, a larger share than EGR. Grand Rapids also has a larger share built since 1980. Structure age helps describe the market, but additions and multiple generations of roof replacement mean it cannot identify the roof currently on a building.
Why a Grand Rapids average roof cost can mislead
Citywide averages can blend small detached houses, large historic homes, duplexes and multi-unit buildings. Finished living area is also not roof surface. A useful estimate begins by measuring the roof and then accounting for slope, waste, height, material, tear-off, penetrations, access and hidden conditions.
The median home value in Grand Rapids is $244,500, but property value is not a roofing input. A smaller expensive home can have a simpler roof than a lower-value property with additions, steep planes or substantial deck damage. Use housing-market figures to understand the community, not to price an address.
How Grand Rapids compares with EGR
Grand Rapids offers scale and variety. EGR offers a much smaller concentration of detached, owner-occupied housing. The companion EGR versus Grand Rapids market comparison explains those differences and what they can and cannot tell a homeowner or roofing company.
Methodology and primary sources
Roof EGR uses U.S. Census Bureau 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates so Grand Rapids and EGR are compared on the same basis. Values come from detailed tables B25001, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25077 and B19013. Percentages were calculated from the published estimates before rounding.
- Housing units: B25001
- Housing tenure: B25003
- Units in structure: B25024
- Year structure built: B25034
- Median home value: B25077
- Median household income: B19013
Last reviewed August 26, 2026. ACS figures are estimates with sampling uncertainty. Roof EGR will update this profile when a newer five-year release is available.