Cascade
Walkable with great nature access
Median $520K·Walkability 8.6/10·Schools 8.5/10
The Thornapple River cuts through this area like a generous line drawn between two worlds—east and west—and if you end up here, you'll understand why people stake claims on both sides of it. Spacious lots, mature trees, and homes that don't apologize for their square footage are the baseline. The area sits about 15 minutes southeast of downtown, close enough to the city's pull but far enough that you're living on land, not in its shadow.
Why people love it here
Walkability
Excellent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Central High School
- High — 2.5 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 4 rated schools in district
Park-rich area
- 15 parks within 1 mile
- Leslie E. Tassell Park: 3 min walk
- Cascade Rd & Burton St Area Trail: 9 min walk
$520K median
- 148 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Cascade
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,530/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.
148 homes sold in Cascade this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 6 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Harvest Health Foods
+1 more
The Gathering Place Restaurant
Jamnbean Coffee Company
JT's Pizza & Spirits
+1 more
Leslie E. Tassell Park
Unnamed playground
Laraway Lake
Unnamed beach
Ada Township Trails
dog_park
Cascade Rd & Burton St Area Trail
Ada - Grand River Launch
+1 more
The Other Body Shop
Patterson/37th (SB)
Walgreens
Cacade Township Branch
Kids R Angels Childcare Center
Phoenix Theatres Woodland Mall
Crime in Cascade 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 Cascade home (around $520,000) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $93k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,505 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,505/mo | $93,475 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $4,034/mo | $107,587 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $4,212/mo | $112,331 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 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.
Land for sale
Listings
3 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$131K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$449K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Cascade, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
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
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Septic (individual)
Based on assessor parcel records
Resident-arranged private hauler
Joint enhanced-services / community policing agreement with Ada & Grand Rapids Twps.
Services for Cascade · Source: NREL Utility Rates API
Utility, solar, and service details for Cascade 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(11)
Harvest Health Foods
Grocery Store
D&W Fresh Market
Grocery Store
Grocery Store
+8 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(8)
Restaurant
Frosty Boy of Cascade
Restaurant
Restaurant
First Wok Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant
Domino's Pizza
Restaurant
+3 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(20)
JT's Pizza & Spirits
Bar
Noto's Old World Italian Dining
Bar
Tacos El Cuñado Cascade
Bar
+17 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(10)
Goldfish Swim School
Forest Hills School
School
West Michigan Aviation Academy
+5 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(4)
Cascade Hospital for Animals Dog Park
Dog Park
Shaggy Pines Dog Park Dog Park
Dog Park
Dog Park in Country Brook Estates Area
Dog Park
+1 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(4)
Cascade Rd & Burton St Area Trail
Bike Path
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
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)
EV Charging
ChargePoint
EV Charging
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Cascade? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Frequently asked about Cascade
- What do homes cost in Cascade?
- The median home value in Cascade is about $520,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Cascade housing market?
- there are 39 homes for sale in Cascade right now, and 148 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Cascade?
- Cascade is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Central Middle School (9/10).
- Is Cascade walkable?
- Cascade scores 8.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Cascade
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