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Hollandia Demographics

Delivered April 18th, 2019. Contributors: Supneet K., Daisy, Agnidip M. and

Part
01
of three
Part
01

West Michigan - Demographics 1

Upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan earn an average of $52,090 per annum. The mostly fall between 33 and 55 years. Majority of such homeowners (84%) have high school degrees. The average household earning for upper-middle-class homeowners in Grand Rapids, West Michigan area is approximately $130,225 per annum.

Overview

  • Grand Rapids is the second largest city of West Michigan area.
  •  According to mlive, Millennial are holding the maximum home ownership in West Michigan but have lower incomes as compared to the age group of 33 to 55 years whose average wage is around $52,090.
  •  According to Trulia, people in the age group of 33-55 in the Grand Rapid Michigan area have home ownership rate below 39.1%.
  •  According to the Census ACS 1, the average household Income for Grand Rapids, West Michigan metro area was $61,298 in 2017 which is estimated for a middle class household.

DEMOGRAPHICS (upper-middle-class homeowners)

Grand Rapids, West Michigan (Proxy city)

  • AGE : Between 33 to 55 years of age.
  • POPULATION : In the Grand Rapids, West Michigan Area, the average population of people in the age group of 33 to 55 years is around 10%, where in age 35-44 years (11.3%);45-54 years (10.3%) and 55-59 years(5.6%).
  • GENDER : Total male population in the region is 49.24% and female is 50.76%. Hence, as 10% population belong to age group of 33 to 55 years. Therefore, 10% of total male/female population =0.04% (Male) and 0.05% (female)
  • RACE : The area is majorly dominated by the following races -total White race(59.66%), Black (19.08%) and Hispanic (15.35%) and10% population constitutes for age group of 33 to 55 years. Therefore, 10% of total white race (0.05%), Black (0.01%) and Hispanic (0.01%)
  • EDUCATION : 86% of the population in the region has the highest education level of High school degree.
  • INCOME LEVEL(household) : Approx $130,225 per annum.
  • HOME OWNERSHIP RATE :Below 39.1%.

Research Strategy:

To obtain the information related to the income level of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan which being very particular in nature could be found through precompiled sources, we researched various credible databases including regional statistics of West Michigan area -US Census Bureau’s, bestplaces, census.gov, deptofnumbers among others. We also made reference to the regional home ownership survey report from -Trulia, mlive, smartassets and news outlets such as CNBC and Business Insider. From the search we found key insights as presented below and data points that we used to triangulate the needed information.

Given that;
=(Average wage per person X The number of people per household)
=$52,090 X 2.5). =$130,225
  • Hence, the people in the age group of 33-55 in the Grand Rapid West Michigan area fall under the category of Upper Middle Class with an average house hold income of $130,225.
  • Grand Rapids Michigan is the second largest city of West Michigan, hence we considered this as a proxy city for West Michigan
  • The age group of (33-55 years) have a home ownership percentage of below 39.1%.  
  • Although Millenials (28-32 years old) have a maximum household ownership in the area Grand Rapid, they have lower annual incomes($37,771) as compared to people between the age of 33-55 years ($52,090).
  • Given the definition of "upper middle class should be defined as those with an annual household income of $100,000 to $350,000", we determined that people between the age of 33-55 years fall under this category with an average household income of approximately $130,225 (see calculations above) per annum.
  • The regional statistics of Grand Rapids indicates that the average population which belongs to the people between the age of 33-55 years was estimated to be 10% 
  • Further, based on the population percentage (10%) of Upper middle class group homeowners (33-55 years) and corroborating it with the total statistics of the Grand Rapid region, the demographics for this population related to age, gender, race, education, and income level was identified (see findings section)
  •  86% of the population in the region have the highest education level of High school degree, hence considered that the Upper middle class group(33-55 years) also are part of this large percentage.

Part
02
of three
Part
02

West Michigan - Demographics 2

14.19% of West Michigan are homeowners with an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000. The demographic data for this selected population of West Michigan has been treated in the key findings.

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS HOMEOWNERS IN WEST MICHIGAN

Total population of West Michigan is 1,257,960 people. 

  • The percentage of families earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 19%. 
  • The percentage of married families earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 27.5%.
  • Percentage of households earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 14.2%.
  • Percentage of non-families earning an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 7.1%. 
  • Percentage of people earning an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 26.1%. 

CALCULATIONS


The following information on salaries was obtained from the demographic data of Grand Rapids due to the unavailability of information specific to West Michigan. This is because the Grand Rapids makes up majority of the population of West Michigan.
  • Married families earn an average of $100,588 annually.
  • Percentage of families earning annual income of $100,000 to $150,000 is 12.5%.
  • Percentage of married families earning annual income of $100,000 to $150,000 is 17.9%.
  • Percentage of households earning annual income of $100,000 to $150,000 is 9.5%.
  • Percentage of non-families earning annual income of $100,000 to $150,000 is 4.8%.
  • Percentage of families earning annual income of $150,000 to $200,000 is 3.8%.
  • Percentage of married families earning annual income of $150,000 to $200,000 is 5.7%.
  • Percentage of households earning annual income of $150,000 to $200,000 is 2.6%.
  • Percentage of married non-families earning annual income of $150,000 to $200,000 is 1%.
  • Percentage of families earning annual income of over $200,000 is 2.7%.
  • Percentage of married families earning annual income of over $200,000 is 3.9%.
  • Percentage of households earning annual income of over $200,000 is 2.1%.
  • Percentage of non-families earning annual income of over $200,000 is 1.3%.

Therefore,
• The percentage of families earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is
12.5% + 3.8% + 2.7% = 19%
• The percentage of married families earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is
17.9% + 5.7% + 3.9% = 27.5%
• Percentage of households earning annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is
9.5% + 2.6% + 2.1% = 14.2%
• Percentage of non-families earning an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is
4.8% + 1% + 1.3% = 7.1%
• Percentage of non-families and families (therefore all the people) earning an annual household income of $100,000 to $350,000 is 19% + 7.1% = 26.1%.

HOMEOWNERS

 54.4% are homeowners.
And 26.1% are upper-middle-class.

Then,
26.1% * 54.4% = 14.19%
14.19% of West Michigan are homeowners with an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000.

AVERAGE SIZE OF A FAMILY IN WEST MICHIGAN

Total population of households that are families is 318,659 which is 11.66% of the population of West Michigan.
Average people per household is 3 people. Therefore, average size of a family is 3 people per family.

MARITAL STATUS OF THE UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS IN WEST MICHIGAN

Given that for the total population of West Michigan,
  • Population of people that have never been married is 25.46%.  
  • Population of people that are married is 41.88%. 
  • Population of people that are separated is 0.89%.  
  • Population of people that are widowed is 4%.  
  • Population of people that are divorced is 8.33%. 
From the data obtained from the Grand Rapids from which we have determined that the percentage of the population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan is 14.19%, it is safe to conclude that the marital status of West Michigan families that are upper-middle-class homeowners is as follows:
If the population of the upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan is 14.19% and 25.46% of this have never been married, then the population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan that have never been married is
25.46 % * 14.19%= 3.61%
  • Population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan that are married is
  • 41.88 % * 14.19% = 5.9%.
  • Population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan that are separated is
  • 0.89 % * 14.19% = 0.126%.
  • Population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan that are widowed is
  • 4 % * 14.19% = 0.57%.
  • Population of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan that are divorced is
  • 8.33 % * 14.19% = 1.18%

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS IN WEST MICHIGAN

From the information obtained from a demographic survey of the Grand Rapids, Michigan which makes up the majority of the population of West Michigan, the occupations of the upper-middle-class homeowners has been compiled.

The occupations of the 14.19% of the population of West Michigan that are homeowners and have an annual household earning of $100,000 to $350,000 are as follows:
  • Average annual income of above $250,000: Oral and maxilofacial surgeons (25.1%).
  • Average annual income of $200,000 to $250,000: general dentists (10.1%), family and general practitioners (11.3%), psychiatrists (13.9%), physicians and surgeons (9.6%), and chief executive (4.9%).
  • Average annual income of $150,000 to $200,000: Nurse anesthetists 7.8%.
  • Average annual income of $100,000 to $150,000: Some professionals earning the mention income include optometrists (4.5%), pharmacists (2.7%), general internists (15.4%), obstetricians and gynecologists (19.6%), physicians assistants (5.6%), veterinarians (11.7%), management occupations (1.2%), general and operations manager (2.1%), advertising and promotion manager (15.7%), and marketing manager (3%).
  • Other career include sales manager (2.8%), computer and information systems manager (3%), financial manager (1.9%), industrial production manager (2.6%), purchasing manager (2%), transportation, storage and distribution manager (5.9%), compensation and benefits manager (4.2%), human resources manager (2.3%), training and development manager (22.4%), architectural and engineering manager (1.4%), medical and health service manager (4.5%), environment engineers (11.4%), engineering teachers in post secondary level (11.4%),

RELIGION PREFERENCES IN WEST MICHIGAN

This information about the religious beliefs was obtained from the demographic data of Michigan due to the unavailability of information specific to West Michigan. This information is used based on the assumption that the religious distribution of West Michigan would be approximately the same as or comparable to that of West Michigan.
  •  70% are in Christian based faiths of which 25% are evangelical protestants, 18% are Mainline protestants, 18% are Catholic, 8% are historical black protestants, 1% are Mormon, and 1% are orthodox Christians.
  •  24% are not religious of which 3% are atheists, 3% are agnostic, and 17% identified as nothing in particular.
  •  5% are in non-Christian based faiths of which 1% are Jewish, 1% are Muslim, 1% are Buddhist, <1% are Hindu, and <1% are other religions   

 Research strategy

The request criteria to provide the demographics of West Michigan for homeowners that have an annual income of $100,000 to $350,000 is quite narrow and little information that satisfies the client's requirements is publicly available.

Although we didn't find specific data of the demographics of West Michigan to satisfy the client's request, we were able to triangulate the information requested using data from demographic statistics of The Grand Rapids and Michigan. Since the population of the Grand Rapids, Michigan makes up majority of the population of West Michigan, we considered it satisfactory to use its demographic data to complete some parts of the request.

Firstly, we began our research by searching for surveys, reports and publications on the demographic statistics of West Michigan in government databases like the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, World Population Review, United States Census Bureau, Data USA, Government Data Catalog, Michigan.Gov etc. From these databases, the data that satisfies the request was relating to the demographic statistics of Michigan but not West Michigan. We searched other external trusted websites and databases like Grand Valley State University, American Library Association, Pew Research Center, Infoplease, etc. This didn't produce any results to directly answer the client's question without triangulating the data.

Then we widened our search to find the demographic data for Michigan and major cities in West Michigan that could be considered as majority of the population of West Michigan from which we would triangulate substantial information to satisfy the client's request. We considered demographic data of Michigan too generalized in some cases to be used to triangulate the data for West Michigan. Therefore, we tried obtaining data from demographic studies of major cities in West Michigan in this case the Grand Rapids.

We searched the same databases mentioned earlier and we were able to triangulate information on the religious beliefs of the selected population West Michigan from the demographic data of Michigan because we couldn't find this information for either West Michigan or the selected population. We triangulated the occupational data of the selected population from the demographic data of The Grand Rapids which makes up the majority of the population of West Michigan and therefore a justifiable conclusion. We also triangulated the data on the marital status and population of homeowners from the Grand Rapids. We triangulated information on the average size of the family of the selected population from the demographic data of West Michigan because we couldn't find any data for the specific population requested.

Finally, from our triangulation we were able to generate findings to satisfy the client's request.
Part
03
of three
Part
03

West Michigan - Psychographic

While there is no publicly available information to fully answer your question, we have used the available data to pull together key findings. The attitudes, values, interests, and lifestyle of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan or Michigan in general could not be triangulated due to the limited information available on the subject provided by online sources that are not behind a paywall. Below you will find an outline of our research methodology to better understand why the information you have requested is publicly unavailable, as well as a deep dive into our findings.

RESEARCH STRATEGY 1 (ALTERNATIVE DATASETS)

  • We first tried using LinkedIn to identify senior executives in the West Michigan region such as Grand Rapids, Kent Ottawa, and others.
  • After identifying the executives, we used websites such as Payscale, Glassdoor, and others to select those with an annual income of between $100,000 and $350,000.
  • However, an examination of posts published by them on social media or blogs did not provide information related to their attitudes, values, interests, and lifestyle.
  • We have determined that profiling for such individuals for psychographic data are available only on third-party websites such as MLive, GRBJ, WoodTV, Patch, Celebrity Net Worth, and others for the richest people or billionaires in the region.
  • An examination of reports published by real estate companies such as JLL, Cushman and Wakefield, Colliers International, Knight Frank, and others also did not reveal the attitudes, values, interests, and lifestyle of upper-middle-class homeowners in West Michigan.
  • They have not published granular information covering the type of buyers they sell their high-end properties to in West Michigan and only mentioned the type of amenities and services they were providing to their clients.

RESEARCH STRATEGY 2 (CREDIBLE DATABASES)

  • An examination of US-based databases such as Data USA, Census, and others did not reveal psychographic data.
  • They have only provided demographic and economic information for residents in West Michigan.
  • An examination of West Michigan-based media outlets such as Hello West Michigan, West Michigan Radio, and others also did not reveal psychographic data of West Michigan residents of certain income levels.
  • They have only provided generic and limited information on the psychographic data of the residents in general.
  • An examination of articles published by national media outlets such as Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, and others did not reveal any interviews with famous/successful/public individuals in West Michigan that provide psychographic data.
  • An interview published by Vanity Fair that featured Betsy DeVos talked about “West Michigan Nice” but no information on their psychographics.

RESEARCH STRATEGY 3 (BROADENING THE CRITERIA TO MICHIGAN IN GENERAL)

  • An attempt to broaden the two strategies mentioned above to the whole of Michigan did not yield any specific information on the attitudes, values, interests, and lifestyle of upper-middle-class homeowners.
  • Only subjective opinions on the people of that area along with their income could be identified.
  • Additionally, only selected aspects such as attitudes towards private education and interests in entertainment or arts are available.

WEST MICHIGAN

  • In general, West Michigan is deemed to have a distinct culture, lifestyle, and economy.
  • It is driven by the strong economy in the area which featured some of the country’s fastest-growing industries such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, agribusiness, renewable energy, aerospace and defense, and information technology.
  • The residents of West Michigan are interested in arts, culture, and entertainment as it is home to the oldest civic theatre in the country, the only ballet company in Michigan, and also the host of the world’s largest public art competition ArtPrize.
  • The residents of West Michigan has a high sense of community involvement as it is among the top-ranking regions in the country for philanthropy and the time spent volunteering is above the national average.
  • The residents of West Michigan practice diverse religions such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam, Jewishism, Protestantism, and others.
  • Zeeland, a neighborhood in West Michigan, is among the top 10% of the retiree-friendly neighborhoods in Michigan and is known for being peaceful, quiet, and safe from crimes.
  • The phrase “West Michigan Nice,” is a popular phrase to indicate the attitude and value-system of the residents of West Michigan.
  • It refers to most people in West Michigan being friendly and always greeting strangers on the street with a smile and a nod.
  • Additionally, the strong sense of community has manifested into food pantries being filled at schools and donation of hundreds of thousands of dollars to fill gaps in the state-funded education.
  • Driven by residents’ interest towards Mexican cuisine, West Michigan is home to a range of Mexican restaurants such as Maggie's Kitchen, Tacos El Cunado Donkey Taqueria, and El Burrito Loco.
  • The area has a lot of craft breweries which imparts a 'Beer Snobbery' among the area's residents.
  • Driven by interests in eco-friendly commuting, residential areas in West Michigan such as Grand Rapids offer over 80 miles of bike lanes.
  • The downtown area of Grand Rapids hosts events throughout the year.
  • In spite of the gradually increasing liberal population Grand Rapids is still considered to be a significantly conservative area.

Northville (outside of west Michigan)

  • Median household income: $88,237 
  • Median home price: $219,500  
  • Residents are known to have interests in the right book club and sending kids to private school.

Plymouth (outside of west Michigan)

  • Median Household Income: $63,875 
  • Median home price: $194,400  
  • This area is known for its interest towards art, culture, and entertainment as it has the second most theatres per capita in Michigan and hosted events like ‘Music in the Air’ and ‘Art in the Park’

Traverse City (outside of west Michigan)

  • Median household income: $44,542 
  • Median home price: $174,500  
  • This area is known for its interests towards festivities, art and culture, and private education as it has the most private schools per capita and the most theatres per capita in Michigan and hosted the National Cherry Festival.

Sources
Sources
From Part 01

Grand Rapids millennials lead U.S. in homeownership

mlive.com
Publication Year: 2017
Quotes
  • "In the Grand Rapids metropolitan area, nearly 89 percent of millennials did not live with their parents or grandparents. Of that group, 57.3 percent were homeowners - the highest rate in the nation."

Grandpa Was a Millennial - Trulia Research

trulia.com
Publication Year: 2017

Grand Rapids Michigan Household Income | Department of Numbers

deptofnumbers.com
Publication Year: 2017

Grand Rapids, Michigan People

bestplaces.net
From Part 02
p

Demographic data of West Michigan

point2homes.com
Publication Year: 2019
w

Grand Rapids, Michigan Population 2019

worldpopulationreview.com
Publication Year: 2019

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI - May 2018 OES Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

bls.gov
Publication Year: 2018

Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics

pewforum.org
Publication Year: 2019

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON UPPER-MIDDLE-CLASS HOMEOWNERS IN WEST MICHIGAN

docs.google.com
Publication Year: 2019
From Part 03

Neighborhoods

hellowestmichigan.com
Publication Year: 2018
Quotes
  • "Grand Haven residents occupy everything from homes directly on the shore of Lake Michigan to apartments above the thriving downtown."
  • "A full spectrum of housing options are available in the Grand Rapids area. High-rise condos, green living communities, historic homes, affordable housing, mature neighborhoods, and brand new developments are all places Grand Rapidians call home."
  • "Holland’s vibrant downtown is flanked by a mix of historic neighborhoods leading out to a variety of contemporary subdivisions and rural communities. Zeeland has more people of Dutch ancestry living in it than nearly any neighborhood in America. Rated by Neighborhood, Zeeland is among the top 10% of retiree-friendly neighborhood in Michigan, combining peace, quiet, safety from crime, and offering diverse housing options. Some places may look the same, but they only reveal their true character after living in them for a while because they contain a unqiue mix of occupational or cultural groups."
  • "Muskegon offers a wealth of living options, ranging from beach side cottages to rural communities. The historic downtown area offers condos, apartments and townhouse options, and is surrounded by vibrant neighborhoods."

Why West Michigan

hellowestmichigan.com
Publication Year: 2018
Quotes
  • "Our region has a distinct culture, lifestyle, and economy. We have some of the country’s fastest growing industries including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, agribusiness, renewable energy, aerospace and defense, and information technology. Besides having great jobs, West Michigan has a low cost of living, which makes it a great place to start a career, raise a family, or retire. Urban city, small town, or rural areas—the West Michigan region has a diverse set of communities catering to everyone. No matter where you live, you’re just a quick drive, or maybe even a short walk, from work, schools, volunteer opportunities, and cultural events. Many towns and attractions in our region repeatedly top national “Best of” lists."
  • "There’s plenty of fun to be had too. Whether you’re into outdoor recreation, arts and music, professional sports, or the local food scene, West Michigan has exciting activities no matter what your idea of “fun” is. Blue waters, pristine beaches, craft breweries, delicious eateries, miles of trails, top-notch museums, charming shops, and professional sports will keep you busy through the four beautiful seasons in West Michigan."
  • "Arts, Culture, Entertainment --Oldest Civic Theatre in the country --Only ballet company in Michigan --World’s largest public art competition – ArtPrize!"
  • "Community Involvement --Top ranking region in the country for philanthropy --Above the national average in hours spent volunteering --Organizations include: Heart of West Michigan United Way, Kids Food Basket, & Holland Rescue Mission"
  • "Faith --Home to a diverse population and vibrant faith communities --Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Hispanic, Islamic, Jewish, Korean, Lithuanian, Polish, Protestant, Russian, Sudanese and Vietnamese institutions"

Suburbs

hellowestmichigan.com
Publication Year: 2018

“I’m Tired of America Wasting Our Blood and Treasure”: The Strange Ascent of Betsy DeVos and Erik Prince

vanityfair.com
Publication Year: 2018
Quotes
  • "Another was that Trump was a useful vehicle for advancing nationally the revolution the DeVoses had already enacted in Michigan. There was, for instance, Betsy DeVos’s campaign to undo the state’s public-education system and replace it with for-profit and charter schools that, as she had put it two decades earlier, shared her mission of “defending the Judeo-Christian values that made us what we are, but which are under attack from the liberal elite.” There was also the campaign she and her husband had waged to weaken Michigan’s unions. And there was the DeVos-family-funded gentrification of Grand Rapids, which had erased the haunting images of a once struggling Rust Belt city, though one beset by racial tensions."
  • "Those are some of the lessons to be learned in western Michigan—West Michigan, as locals call it, as if to designate a separate state, or at least a state of mind."

DAVIDSON: Getting to understand ‘West Michigan Nice’

grandhaventribune.com
Publication Year: 2018
Quotes
  • "When I moved to West Michigan in 2001 from the east side of the state, I was told about something called "West Michigan nice." Through the years, I have come to understand this on a few levels."
  • "On a surface level, I think the term refers to the idea that most people in West Michigan are friendly and greet strangers on the street with a smile and a nod. Having lived in different parts of the state and the country, I will say that there is something uniquely “nice” about West Michigan. Beyond the surface, there is a sense of community that is subtle but striking."
  • "When one of our own — either an individual, a family or a group within our wider community — is in need, the people of the West Michigan that I know come through. Time and again, we see food pantries being filled at schools, neighbors shoveling out neighbors and public school supporters donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to fill gaps in the state-funded education of our children. I see this in the medical arena with faith- and community-based initiatives to support patients with their non-medical needs in times of a health care crisis."

10 Reasons NOT To Move To Grand Rapids

wfgr.com

30 Things No One Tells You About Leaving Grand Rapids - Movoto Real Estate Blog

movoto.com
Publication Year: 2015
Quotes
  • "Grand Rapids has become slightly less conservative in recent years. And by slightly less conservative I mean that three people voted for Obama. Okay, I’m kidding. It was at least seven. But despite the increasing liberal population, Grand Rapids is notoriously so conservative, most other cities will feel like you just were transported back to Woodstock."
  • "Other Cities Don’t Care About Your Happiness - At least, not the way that Grand Rapids does. Try finding something like LaughFest anywhere else where you can catch a headlining comedian and also try to break the world record for loudest group laugh."
  • "When you leave Grand Rapids, you might start to notice that everyone suddenly seems a lot older. That’s because it’s probably true. The average age in the Rapids is 30 years old, making it a hotspot for young, eager workers invested in their futures."

These Are The 10 Snobbiest Places In Michigan

roadsnacks.net
Publication Year: 2018

Michigan

datausa.io