Cato
Great schools with outdoor access
The quick answer
Cato is a township, part of Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm). Homes here typically sell for around $240,000.
10 homes for sale·Median $240K·Walkability 3.1/10·Schools 6.7/10
You're looking at a rural stretch where acreage, workshops, and water access define the scene. Tamarack Lake and Townline Lake draw folks who want fishing within arm's reach, with public boat launches a short drive away, while properties here often sprawl across several acres—think pole barns, finished basements doubling as craft spaces, and room to breathe that's hard to find closer to town. The area sits between Lakeview and Greenville, roughly 56 minutes south of downtown Grand Rapids, which means you get that country-living feel without being completely cut off; a coffee shop and restaurant are literally steps away, and a park is about a 13-minute walk if you need quick access to green space. Homes tend toward the practical—remodeled farmhouses with newer kitchens, mobile setups on cleared land, bungalows with decks overlooking the water—and the tone here is straightforward: less boutique charm, more honest rural living, where a four-acre property or a 40-by-56 insulated pole barn for workshops or storage isn't a luxury, it's just what the landscape offers. It's the kind of place where you're genuinely buying land and access, not proximity to amenities.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Tamarack Lake within walking distance
- 10 parks within 1 mile
- Park on 22 Mile Rd: 7 min bike
- Little Brimmer Lake: 5 min drive
Lakeview Elementary School
- Elementary — 1.1 mi away
- Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm)
- 3 rated schools in district
$67K median household income
- $240K median · 29 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Cato
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,629/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.
29 homes sold in Cato this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Unnamed park
0.7 mi
Parks Nearby
10
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Tamarack Lake
0.0 mi
Based on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 9/10
School District: Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm)
Median Income
$67K
Household
Median Sale Price
$240K
29 sales in last 12mo
Expected Rent
$900/mo
$825 – $975 · estimated range
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Subway
Village Kupps
Park on 22 Mile Rd
Playground on 22 Mile Rd
Little Brimmer Lake
Most of Cato is policed by the Montcalm County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (186 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (83 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 186 |
| Aggravated assault | 83 |
| Burglary | 65 |
| Rape | 43 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 25 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Arson | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Montcalm County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Montcalm County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Cato alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Cato home (around $240,000) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $40k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,484 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Cato household earns $66,760 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $426,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,484/mo | $39,582 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $1,729/mo | $46,095 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $1,811/mo | $48,285 |
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 and median property taxes, 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
4 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$10K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$25K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
1 building
Active / pending
Median Price
$180K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$90K
Median
Who actually lends in Cato, 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
Cato Township
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
~$864/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,346 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Private well
Rural township; residents on individual private wells.
Septic - individual
Rural township; individual septic systems.
Resident-arranged private hauler
No municipal trash; residents contract private haulers.
Consumers Energy Co|Tri County Electric Coop (MI) · ~13.6¢/kWh
Primary electric provider; Great Lakes Energy cooperative in pockets.
Confirm by addressNatural gas where available; rural homes often on propane.
Confirm by addressSource: montcalm.us
Utility, solar, and service details for Cato 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.
Median Income
$67K
Home Value (Census)
$165K
Expected Rent
$900/mo
$825 – $975 · estimated range
🍕 Restaurants(4)
Fast Food
Little China
Restaurant
Restaurant
☕ Coffee(1)
Village Kupps
Café
🏥 Hospitals(1)
Hospital
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Cato? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in Cato: the details
Is Cato a good place to live?
Cato is a strong fit if you want green space nearby — here is what the data shows. For getting around, it is mostly a drive-first area, so you will use a car for groceries, dining and errands. This township is part of Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm). Homes here typically sell for around $240,000.
What does it cost to live in Cato?
The typical home in Cato goes for around $240,000. There are 10 homes for sale here right now and 29 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Cato
- What do homes cost in Cato?
- The median home value in Cato is about $240,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Cato housing market?
- there are 10 homes for sale in Cato right now, and 29 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Cato?
- Cato is served by Lakeview Community Schools (Montcalm). Its highest-rated assigned school is Lakeview Elementary School (9/10).
- Is Cato walkable?
- Cato scores 3.1/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
