Best Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids
Most "best neighborhoods" lists are opinion. This one is computed: every Greater Grand Rapids neighborhood, city, and township scored on a transparent blend of in-district school ratings, walking-time score, parks within a mile, and real drive time to downtown — then ranked, and sortable by the factor you care about most.
How we ranked: Composite score: in-district school rating (45%), walkability (35%), and parks access (20%). Limited to places with at least two rated schools, a computed walkability score, and at least 40 homes. Median price and drive-to-downtown are shown for context.
The 10 best, by the numbers
- 1
Cannonsburg — schools 10.0/10 · walkability 5.0/10 · $530K median · 24 min to downtown
- 2
East Grand Rapids — schools 8.8/10 · walkability 6.1/10 · $725K median · 11 min to downtown
- 3
Byron Center — schools 7.8/10 · walkability 6.9/10 · $515K median · 19 min to downtown
- 4
Forest Hills — schools 8.3/10 · walkability 6.1/10 · $625K median · 15 min to downtown
- 5
Hudsonville — schools 8.4/10 · walkability 5.6/10 · $340K median · 21 min to downtown
- 6
Lowell — schools 7.7/10 · walkability 6.3/10 · $296K median · 28 min to downtown
- 7
Jenison — schools 7.8/10 · walkability 5.8/10 · $357K median · 17 min to downtown
- 8
Leffingwell-Twin Lakes — schools 7.3/10 · walkability 6.3/10 · $420K median · 10 min to downtown
- 9
Reeds Lake — schools 8.8/10 · walkability 3.9/10 · $933K median · 12 min to downtown
- 10
Coopersville — schools 6.3/10 · walkability 6.4/10 · $340K median · 25 min to downtown
Compare all 50 neighborhoods
Tap a column to sort by schools, walkability, price, or commute.
| Neighborhood | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cannonsburg | 10.0/10 | 5.0/10 | $530K | 24 min |
| 2 | East Grand Rapids | 8.8/10 | 6.1/10 | $725K | 11 min |
| 3 | Byron Center | 7.8/10 | 6.9/10 | $515K | 19 min |
| 4 | Forest Hills | 8.3/10 | 6.1/10 | $625K | 15 min |
| 5 | Hudsonville | 8.4/10 | 5.6/10 | $340K | 21 min |
| 6 | Lowell | 7.7/10 | 6.3/10 | $296K | 28 min |
| 7 | Jenison | 7.8/10 | 5.8/10 | $357K | 17 min |
| 8 | Leffingwell-Twin Lakes | 7.3/10 | 6.3/10 | $420K | 10 min |
| 9 | Reeds Lake | 8.8/10 | 3.9/10 | $933K | 12 min |
| 10 | Coopersville | 6.3/10 | 6.4/10 | $340K | 25 min |
| 11 | Dixie | 7.3/10 | 4.8/10 | $291K | 13 min |
| 12 | Nunica | 7.3/10 | 4.6/10 | $265K | 30 min |
| 13 | Eastown | 4.1/10 | 8.6/10 | $424K | 6 min |
| 14 | Zeeland | 6.4/10 | 5.6/10 | $342K | 30 min |
| 15 | Rockford | 7.3/10 | 4.4/10 | $374K | 22 min |
| 16 | Maplewood | 7.9/10 | 3.5/10 | $328K | 17 min |
| 17 | Beechwood | 4.9/10 | 7.3/10 | $337K | 39 min |
| 18 | Hager Park | 8.0/10 | 3.3/10 | $381K | 20 min |
| 19 | Grand Haven | 5.5/10 | 6.4/10 | $350K | 44 min |
| 20 | Midtown | 4.1/10 | 8.0/10 | $290K | 5 min |
| 21 | Cutlerville | 5.7/10 | 5.9/10 | $335K | 13 min |
| 22 | Georgetown Lakes | 7.9/10 | 3.0/10 | $358K | 16 min |
| 23 | Grandville | 7.1/10 | 4.0/10 | $333K | 15 min |
| 24 | West Grand | 4.5/10 | 7.1/10 | $270K | 7 min |
| 25 | East Hills | 4.0/10 | 7.7/10 | $348K | 4 min |
| 26 | Grandville Lakes | 7.0/10 | 3.6/10 | $338K | 17 min |
| 27 | Fulton Heights | 4.3/10 | 7.0/10 | $375K | 7 min |
| 28 | Auburn Hills | 4.7/10 | 6.4/10 | $350K | 9 min |
| 29 | South West Area Neighbors (SWAN) | 4.2/10 | 7.0/10 | $238K | 4 min |
| 30 | North East Citizens Action | 5.9/10 | 4.7/10 | $330K | 10 min |
| 31 | Baxter | 4.1/10 | 7.0/10 | $229K | 6 min |
| 32 | Holland | 4.6/10 | 6.3/10 | $325K | 38 min |
| 33 | Comstock Park | 5.6/10 | 5.0/10 | $315K | 12 min |
| 34 | Creston | 4.8/10 | 6.0/10 | $297K | 9 min |
| 35 | Heartside | 4.0/10 | 6.9/10 | $388K | 1 min |
| 36 | Highland Park | 4.3/10 | 6.5/10 | $261K | 7 min |
| 37 | Garfield Park | 4.0/10 | 6.7/10 | $267K | 8 min |
| 38 | Kentwood | 5.4/10 | 4.7/10 | $338K | 17 min |
| 39 | Heritage Hill | 4.0/10 | 6.3/10 | $415K | 3 min |
| 40 | North Park | 4.6/10 | 5.5/10 | $315K | 9 min |
| 41 | Grand Rapids | 4.0/10 | 6.2/10 | $296K | 3 min |
| 42 | Alger Heights | 3.6/10 | 6.7/10 | $277K | 12 min |
| 43 | Roosevelt Park | 3.9/10 | 6.3/10 | $190K | 5 min |
| 44 | South Hill | 4.0/10 | 6.0/10 | $433K | 4 min |
| 45 | South East Community | 3.9/10 | 6.0/10 | $240K | 5 min |
| 46 | Eastgate | 4.1/10 | 5.7/10 | $425K | 13 min |
| 47 | Fuller Avenue | 4.0/10 | 5.8/10 | $290K | 9 min |
| 48 | Northview | 5.7/10 | 3.6/10 | $350K | 14 min |
| 49 | Martin Luther King Park | 3.9/10 | 5.9/10 | $275K | 8 min |
| 50 | Ferrysburg | 4.9/10 | 4.6/10 | $360K | 43 min |
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Or rank by one thing that matters most
Most Walkable Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids
Ranked by walking-time score (0–10) to grocery, pharmacy, restaurants, parks, transit, and gyms. Capped at 2 square miles — the size at which "walk the length and width in a day" stops being aspirational.
Grand Rapids Neighborhoods with the Best Schools
Ranked by a confidence-weighted average of GreatSchools ratings (0–10) across every school assigned to each place. The weighting favors places with more rated schools, so a district where many schools are strong outranks one with a single high-rated school. Only includes places with at least two rated schools.
Grand Rapids Neighborhoods with Top Schools and Parks
Ranked by a blend of assigned-school rating (0–10, weighted most heavily), parks within a mile, and walkability. Limited to places with at least two rated schools so the school signal is real.
Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids
Ranked by median home price (lowest first), using recent sale prices where available and assessed market value otherwise. Limited to places with at least 40 homes so a handful of low sales can't skew the list.
Neighborhoods with Acreage in Greater Grand Rapids
Ranked by median lot size in acres. Only includes places with at least 30 parcels so single-record outliers don't skew the list.
Historic Neighborhoods in Grand Rapids
Ranked by dominant architectural style. Tier 1: Victorian, Federal, Tudor. Tier 2: Craftsman, Bungalow, Colonial. Tier 3: Cape Cod, Farmhouse. Median year-built data is too sparse across Greater Grand Rapids to use as the primary signal — we rank by style instead, with the year-built stat shown when available.