Rapid River is a township in Kalkaska County, Michigan, home to about 1,321 people across 35 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 49612, 49646, 49659 and 49676.
Homes sold for a median of $248 per square foot across 4 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 0 of 4 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Helena; part is in Rapid River
Mostly Kalkaska; part is in Rapid River
Mostly Mancelona; part is in Rapid River
Mostly Clearwater; part is in Rapid River
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Rapid River. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Rapid River’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)137 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)22 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Milwaukee, WI186 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL244 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Rapid River; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Rapid River had 1,245 residents in the 2020 census, up 24% since 2000.
It’s the 1058th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.
Kalkaska County grew from 7,133 residents in 1900 to 17,939 in 2020.
Kalkaska County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average 10°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 132 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Kalkaska, MI weather station (8 miles away).
4,120 jobs at 353 businesses in Kalkaska County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
96 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Rapid River’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 13 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 5 |
| Dentists | 13 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 22 |
| Mental health providers | 18 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 16 |
| Optometrists | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 5 |
| Pharmacies | 6 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores
Libraries
Museums
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Kalkaska Public Schools, Mancelona Public Schools, Excelsior Township S/D #1 and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalkaska Elementary SchoolKalkaska | Pre-K–5 | 517 | Public | 7.6 mi |
| Mancelona Elementary SchoolMancelona | Pre-K–4 | 288 | Public | 5.4 mi |
| Rapid City Elementary SchoolRapid City | Pre-K–5 | 70 | Public | 6.6 mi |
| Crawford SchoolKalkaska | K–8 | 46 | Public | 9.9 mi |
| North Central Academy CampusMancelona | K–12 | 174 | Charter | 11.2 mi |
| Mancelona Middle SchoolMancelona | 5–8 | 242 | Public | 5.6 mi |
| Kalkaska Middle SchoolKalkaska | 6–8 | 307 | Public | 7.7 mi |
| Kalkaska High SchoolKalkaska | 9–12 | 439 | Public | 7.7 mi |
| Mancelona High SchoolMancelona | 9–12 | 243 | Public | 5.1 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Mancelona, Kalkaska, Clearwater, Milton Township (Antrim County), Coldsprings, Excelsior, Orange Township (Kalkaska County), Helena, Custer Township (Antrim County), Chestonia, Bear Lake Township (Kalkaska County), Blue Lake Township and Oliver Township (Kalkaska County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.