Beard Farm
Strong schools draw families here
Median $1.2M·Walkability 2.2/10·Schools 8.5/10
Driving through Beard Farm feels like moving through a pocket of breathing room—53 acres of platted land where homes sit with genuine space around them. It's close enough to downtown Grand Rapids (16 minutes) and Gerald R. Ford airport (15 minutes) that commuting doesn't eat your day, but far enough out that you're not living on top of neighbors. Homes here run around $980K. Everything essential clusters within walking distance: a grocery store, coffee shop, and eighteen restaurants sit about a mile away, and Cascade Burton Park is even closer if you need green space fast. The Forest Hills Public Schools district serves the area. This isn't a manufactured community—it's a subdivision with real utility, where the draw is straightforward: land, proximity, and a spot in the Cascade Rd & Burton St Area that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't.
Why people love it here
Central High School
- High — 1.0 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 4 rated schools in district
$1.2M median
- 1 recent sale
Park-rich area
- 10 parks within 1 mile
- Laraway Lake: 3 min walk
- Burton St & Kraft Ave Area Trail: 7 min walk
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Beard Farm
Estimated Monthly Payment
$8,079/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
Based on 8 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Cascade Burton Park
0.9 mi
Parks Nearby
10
within 1 mile
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Harvest Health Foods
+1 more
Nature First
Starbucks
Noto's Old World Italian Dining
+1 more
Cascade Burton Park
Unnamed playground
Laraway Lake
Unnamed beach
Ada Township Trails
dog_park
Burton St & Kraft Ave Area Trail
Ada - Grand River Launch
The Other Body Shop
Walgreens
Cacade Township Branch
Phoenix Theatres Woodland Mall
Crime in Beard Farm is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Beard Farm home (around $1,190,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $211k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $7,915 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $7,915/mo | $211,067 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $9,113/mo | $243,004 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $9,513/mo | $253,684 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Local Government · area-wide
Cascade Charter Township
Source: cascadetwp.com · unconfirmed
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$877/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,397 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Township/Grand Rapids regional water (developed); private well rural
Municipal water in developed corridors; rural on well.
Municipal sewer (developed); individual septic rural
Sewer in serviced areas; rural on septic.
Resident-arranged private hauler
Joint enhanced-services / community policing agreement with Ada & Grand Rapids Twps.
Services for Cascade · Source: cascadetwp.com
Utility, solar, and service details for Beard Farm are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🛒 Grocery(13)
D&W Fresh Market
Grocery Store
Grocery Store
Harvest Health Foods
Grocery Store
+10 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(12)
Nature First
Restaurant
Nabila's Sugar Shack
Restaurant
The Pit Stop
Restaurant
Nutriments of Cascade
Restaurant
Graze Craze Charcuterie Boards & Boxes
Restaurant
+7 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(19)
+16 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(24)
+21 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(14)
Forest Hills School
School
Knapp School
Goldfish Swim School
+9 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(4)
Cascade Hospital for Animals Dog Park
Dog Park
Dog Park in 29th St & East Paris Ave Area
Dog Park
Dog Park in Country Brook Estates Area
Dog Park
+1 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(4)
Burton St & Kraft Ave Area Trail
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(1)
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
🏥 Hospitals(1)
Forest View Hospital
Hospital
📚 Libraries(3)
⚡ EV Charging(2)
ChargePoint
EV Charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Beard Farm
- What do homes cost in Beard Farm?
- The median home value in Beard Farm is about $1,190,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Beard Farm housing market?
- there is 1 home for sale in Beard Farm right now, and 1 home sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Beard Farm?
- Beard Farm is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Central Middle School (9/10).
- Is Beard Farm walkable?
- Beard Farm scores 2.2/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.