City Score: Pierson, MI

One number for Pierson, MI: the condition of the city from public data and how the church is moving, updated weekly, every indicator footnoted to its source. Back to Pierson, MI. Part of the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area. In Michigan.

The score

Pierson, MI scores 37 out of 100 on the Joy Project City Score, status Liberty since Oct 2026. Condition 41 (the city from public data, 60%) and Movement 31 (how the church is moving, 40%). How the score is built.

Condition: Partly Michigan state-wide (3 of 4 indexes)

Read state-wide: Michigan

State-wide for Marriage & family and Liberty: the numbers for Divorces, Marriages, Religious Liberty in the States score, Safeguards fully in law, State Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Anti-Christian hate crimes, School choice, Protections for the unborn, Homeschool freedom, and Tone of news coverage of Christianity are published for Michigan as a whole, not by city, so every Michigan city carries Michigan's numbers.

Michigan scores 32 out of 100, Liberty since Oct 2026 (Condition 32 · Movement 32).

These numbers change at the state. A petition started from any Michigan city reaches Michigan's officials, and Michigan's own score moves with them.

Start a petition for Michigan in the Joy app.

What's moving it

  • 4 prayer gatherings (Prayer, listed from church websites)
  • 36 ways to serve (Service, listed from church websites)
  • 37 gatherings (Gathering, listed from church websites)
  • 74 churches listed (Unity, listed from church websites)
  • 10 Bible studies (Discipleship, listed from church websites)

The condition of Pierson, MI

  • What Pierson is up against: 20 out of 100 — Better than 99% of cities, up 9 points
  • Where grace is growing: 11 out of 100 — Better than 3% of cities (From the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) area)
  • Marriage & family: 53 out of 100 — Better than 56% of cities, down 7 points (Michigan state-wide)
  • Christian liberty: 21 out of 100 — Better than 9% of cities (Michigan state-wide)

Christianity on the Move in Pierson, MI

A non-biased rating of Christian values across the cultural areas of impact, from public data: 1 to 100, higher is more favourable. Pierson, MI rates 36 out of 100: Drifting across 7 of 8 areas. The rating is public data only; how the church is moving in each area this week is shown beside it and never blended in. How it is built.

The Church: 9 out of 100, Barren

Faith institutions, spiritual leadership and worship spaces. Key measure: Church adherents (267.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, Montcalm County, MI). From the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (4 prayer gatherings, 36 ways to serve, and 37 gatherings).

Every measure behind The Church (6)
  • Church adherents: 267.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, scores 7 out of 100 · 2020, Montcalm County, MI · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
  • Congregations: 15.6 congregations per 10,000 residents, scores 32 out of 100 · 2020, Montcalm County, MI · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
  • Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
  • Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
  • New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)
  • Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, scores 0 out of 100 · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger)

The Family: 52 out of 100, Mending

The core social unit: marriages, children and household structures. Key measure: Children with married parents (75.5 % of own children under 18 in married-couple families, Montcalm County, MI). Michigan state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (10 Bible studies).

Every measure behind The Family (8)

Education: 30 out of 100, Wandering

Schools, universities and systems of learning. Key measure: School choice (0 0-2, Michigan). Michigan state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 50 out of 100 (10 Bible studies).

Every measure behind Education (3)

Government: 15 out of 100, Oppressive

Public policy, law, safety and civic governance. Key measure: Religious Liberty in the States score (27.1 % of the edition's safeguards in state law, Michigan). Michigan state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 11 out of 100.

Every measure behind Government (6)

Media: 43 out of 100, Mixed

News, journalism and digital communication. Key measure: Tone of news coverage of Christianity (-0.7 tone (-10 hostile to +10 favourable), Michigan). Michigan state-wide. The church's movement in it this week: 5 out of 100.

Every measure behind Media (1)

Arts & Entertainment: 36 out of 100, Worldly

Film, music, sports and cultural storytelling. From Pierson, MI's other areas. The church's movement in it this week: 5 out of 100.

Every measure behind Arts & Entertainment (2)

Business: 11 out of 100, Greedy

Commerce, generosity and the marketplace. Key measure: Charitable giving (0.4 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, Montcalm County, MI). From the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 11 out of 100.

Every measure behind Business (3)

Compassion: 95 out of 100, Abounding

Mercy toward people in trouble: addiction, recovery, children in care and neighbors serving. Key measure: Drug overdose deaths (8.5 deaths per 100,000, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed)). From the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) area. The church's movement in it this week: 31 out of 100 (36 ways to serve).

Every measure behind Compassion (3)

What takes Pierson, MI to Revival

  • City Pulse: City Pulse 2 → 40
  • Unity: Unity 12 → 45
  • Prayer: Prayer 0 → 45
  • Discipleship: Discipleship 0 → 45

What affected it

  • This quarter: Adults 25-44 married down 28 percentile points (Marriage & family)
  • This quarter: Violent crime up 17 percentile points (What Pierson is up against)
  • This quarter: Property crime up 4 percentile points (What Pierson is up against)

Pierson, MI over time

  • — Entered Liberty

Sources

  1. Violent crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Montcalm County Sheriff's Office · fetched Oct 29, 2026
  2. Property crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Montcalm County Sheriff's Office · fetched Oct 29, 2026
  3. Sexually transmitted infections: CDC NCHHSTP AtlasPlus · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  4. Drug overdose deaths: CDC NCHS, provisional county drug overdose deaths (VSRR) · 2025 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  5. Legal gambling: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Nov 4, 2026
  6. Adult entertainment outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  7. Gambling outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  8. Cannabis outlets: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  9. Liquor outlets and bars: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  10. Predatory lenders: OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  11. Abortion facilities (mapped): OpenStreetMap outlet counts (Metro pulse, metro_reformation_stats) · fetched Oct 31, 2026
  12. Church adherents: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  13. Congregations: 2020 U.S. Religion Census · 2020 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  14. Charitable giving: IRS Statistics of Income, county data · 2023 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  15. Given to local needs in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
  16. Needs met in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
  17. Volunteers mobilized in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
  18. New believers in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
  19. Searches for a church in Joy: Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · 2026-10 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 9, 2026 · verified in Joy
  20. Foster and adoptive families in the churches: Church workspace entries (church-attested) · 2026-11 · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · fetched Nov 4, 2026 · verified in Joy
  21. Christian colleges and universities: NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges) · 2024 · county · fetched Nov 10, 2026
  22. Children with married parents: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  23. Adults 25-44 married: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  24. Cohabiting households: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Montcalm County, MI · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  25. Divorces: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Michigan · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  26. Marriages: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year · 2020-2024 · Michigan · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  27. Births to unmarried mothers: CDC WONDER · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  28. Religious Liberty in the States score: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  29. Safeguards fully in law: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  30. State Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Religious Liberty in the States · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Oct 28, 2026
  31. Anti-Christian hate crimes: FBI Crime Data Explorer · 2025 · Michigan · fetched Oct 29, 2026
  32. School choice: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Nov 4, 2026
  33. Protections for the unborn: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Nov 4, 2026
  34. Homeschool freedom: The Liberty register (config/conditions/liberty_laws.yml) · 2026 · Michigan · fetched Nov 4, 2026
  35. Tone of news coverage of Christianity: GDELT Project, DOC 2.0 API (tone of U.S. news coverage naming Christianity) · 2026-11 · Michigan · fetched Nov 10, 2026

City Score over time

The last 6 weeks, Pierson, MI, Michigan, and United States side by side. The Condition moves by the quarter; the week-to-week line is how the church is moving.

WeekPierson, MIMichiganUnited States
2026-W41——37
2026-W42——37
2026-W43—3444
2026-W44293141
2026-W45393544
2026-W46393544

Compare Pierson, MI

Every indicator

What Pierson is up against — 20 out of 100

Where grace is growing — 11 out of 100

  • Church adherents: 267.3 adherents per 1,000 residents, better than 7% of cities · 2020, Montcalm County, MI · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
  • Congregations: 15.6 congregations per 10,000 residents, better than 32% of cities · 2020, Montcalm County, MI · 2020 U.S. Religion Census
  • Charitable giving: 0.4 itemized charitable deductions as % of adjusted gross income, better than 22% of cities · 2023, Montcalm County, MI · IRS Statistics of Income, county data
  • Given to local needs in Joy: 0 dollars per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
  • Needs met in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
  • Volunteers mobilized in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
  • New believers in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
  • Searches for a church in Joy: 0 per 100,000 residents, trailing 12 months, better than 0% of cities · 2026-10, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Verified in Joy (the impact ledger) · verified in Joy
  • Foster and adoptive families in the churches: 0 per 100,000 residents, better than 0% of cities · 2026-11, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (2 counties summed) · Church workspace entries (church-attested) · verified in Joy
  • Christian colleges and universities: 0 per million residents, better than 33% of cities · 2024 · NCES IPEDS via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (religious affiliation of colleges)

Marriage & family — 53 out of 100

Christian liberty — 21 out of 100

Quote and download

Cite it as: Joy Project City Score v1.0, Pierson, MI, 2026-Q4, joyproject.com/cities/pierson-mi/score

Embed the card on your site: <iframe src="https://joyproject.com/embed/cities/pierson-mi" width="320" height="180" title="City Score: Pierson, MI" loading="lazy" style="border:0"></iframe>

See how the church is moving in Pierson, MI

JoyProject is free on iPhone and Android.