[7] The township is about 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown Grand Rapids.

Gaines Township is served by three separate public school districts.

The western portion of the township is served by Bryon Center Public Schools in Byron Center, while the northwestern corner is served by Kentwood Public Schools in Kentwood.

As of the 2010 United States Census,[1] there were 25,146 people, 9,220 households, and 6,740 families in the township.

There were 9,866 housing units at an average density of 276.3 per square mile (106.7/km2).

21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.