Grand Rapids vs Detroit
Side-by-side comparison across six federal data streams. Grand Rapids edges out Detroit on the composite MoveScore (74 vs 70).
| Metric | Grand Rapids | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| MoveScore (Composite) | 74/100 (B) | 70/100 (B) |
| Safety (FBI UCR) | 64/100 (C) | N/A |
| Violent Crime / 100k | 375 | N/A |
| Water (EPA SDWIS) | 100/100 (A) | 94/100 (A) |
| Air (EPA AQS median AQI) | N/A | N/A |
| Schools (NCES) | N/A | N/A |
| Fiscal Health (Census) | 42/100 · $22,146 pc | 69/100 · $31,087 pc |
| Hospitals (CMS HCAHPS) | 4.5/5 · 4 tracked | 2.3/5 · 10 tracked |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better place to live, Grand Rapids or Detroit?
Grand Rapids edges out Detroit on the composite MoveScore (74 vs 70). The honest answer depends on what you weight most. Grand Rapids and Detroit each have different strengths across the six federal data streams — see the breakdown above and decide which trade-offs fit your priorities.
Are Grand Rapids and Detroit in the same state?
Yes, both cities are in Michigan.
Where does the data come from?
All sub-scores trace to federal government sources: FBI UCR for safety, EPA SDWIS for water, EPA AQS for air, NCES/EDFacts for schools, Census ASPEP for fiscal health, and CMS HCAHPS for hospitals.
Side-by-side comparisons use the same six federal data streams as full city profiles. Bold entries indicate the better value on each metric.