Each row shows where Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood sits on the national distribution for one economic concept across all three mobility measures.

All income a person receives, including wages and transfers.

α Absolute mobility 42nd percentile

this county national median

32.31 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 60th percentile

this county national median

0.34 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 31st percentile

this county national median

The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

Income earned from work (wages and salaries).

α Absolute mobility 47th percentile

this county national median

37.03 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 57th percentile

this county national median

0.33 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 90th percentile

this county national median

12.62 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The probability of owning a home (the extensive margin of housing wealth).

α Absolute mobility 64th percentile

this county national median

62.23 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 54th percentile

this county national median

0.40 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 26th percentile

this county national median

-11.22 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The value of housing assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 71st percentile

this county national median

40.31 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 64th percentile

this county national median

0.34 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 35th percentile

this county national median

-1.92 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The total value of all assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 56th percentile

this county national median

41.79 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 81st percentile

this county national median

0.35 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 72nd percentile

this county national median

6.51 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

County	State	α (absolute mobility)	β (persistence)	δ (extensive margin)	n
Barry	MI	43.79	0.307	5.04	800
Ionia	MI	42.08	0.313	8.71	1400
Kent	MI	39.86	0.392	8.16	6100
Montcalm	MI	40.39	0.284	11.29	1500
Ottawa	MI	46.20	0.327	-0.58	2700

Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood

The five lenses at a glance