Jon Hazeltine
Local Expert
Downtown
Walkable and connected
The quick answer
Downtown is a walkable neighborhood, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools and less than a mile from downtown Grand Rapids. Homes here typically sell for around $365,000.
15 homes for sale·Median $365K·Walkability 6.7/10·Schools 4.1/10
Art. Food. Music. Business.
Downtown Grand Rapids is big enough that you'll never run out of something new to try on your night out but small enough to still feel like home. It's the center of culture, business, and medical research in West Michigan.
Grand Rapids was nicknamed "Beer City USA" for its abundance of craft breweries, many of which are right downtown — the most iconic being Founders Brewing Co. If beer isn't your thing, Madcap Coffee Company is a world-renowned minimalist cafe. San Chez Tapas Bistro and The B.O.B. are local favorites for dining, while The Intersection and 20 Monroe Live regularly host headliners of every style.
About this area
Living in the absolute heart of downtown means stepping outside your door and into the pulse of Grand Rapids. With 594 restaurants within a mile and your nearest coffee shop literally at street level, this is urban living distilled to its essence. You're not just close to everything — you ARE everything. The skywalk connects you to Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and Rosa Parks Circle without ever needing a coat, while the Grand River flows just blocks away.
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Why people love it here
Very walkable
- Express Cafe: 1 min walk
- 30 places within a 10 min walk
Park-rich area
- 150 parks within 1 mile
- Calder Plaza: 2 min walk
- Lyon Square: 6 min walk
$365K median
- 23 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Downtown
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,478/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
Guild Mortgage
Loan officer: Jon Hazeltine · NMLS #2574218
Company NMLS #3274 · Licensed in MI
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.
23 homes sold in Downtown this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthWalkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Boardwalk Subs
Healthy Habits Downtown
+1 more
Express Cafe
+1 more
HTH WINE AND WOOD
+1 more
Calder Plaza
+1 more
Coit Park Playground
Fisk Lake
+1 more
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve Beach
Grand Rapids Riverwalk East
Downtown Westside Dog Park
+1 more
Unnamed bike path
Butterworth Park Launch
+1 more
8th Day Gym
+1 more
Ottawa/Lyon (EB)
+1 more
Walgreens Pharmacy
+1 more
Grand Rapids Public Library
+1 more
daycare
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
+1 more
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Calder Plaza
0.1 mi
Parks Nearby
150
within 1 mile
Median Sale Price
$365K
23 sales in last 12mo
Parks Nearby
150
within 1 mile
Nearest Park
Calder Plaza
0.1 mi
Expected Rent
$2,175/mo
$2,000 – $2,350 · estimated range
Based on 34 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 8/10
School District: Grand Rapids Public Schools
Crime in Downtown 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 Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Downtown home (around $365,000) at today's 6.65% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $66k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,459 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,459/mo | $65,561 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,830/mo | $75,459 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,954/mo | $78,786 |
Estimates use a 6.65% 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.
Multifamily for sale
Listings
2 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$900K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$225K
Median
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
~$868/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,334 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
City of Grand Rapids Refuse & Recycling
City-run refuse/recycling cart program for residents.
Consumers Energy Co · ~13.7¢/kWh
Investor-owned utility serving the region.
Confirm by addressDTE Energy
DTE Gas serves much of Grand Rapids natural gas; verify by address.
Confirm by addressServices for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidsmi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for Downtown 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(30)
Grocery Store
Boardwalk Subs
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
+27 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(6)
Downtown Nutrition LLC
Restaurant
Healthy Habits Downtown
Restaurant
Restaurant
Taco Bob's
Restaurant
Real Seafood Company Grand Rapids
Restaurant
+1 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(10)
+7 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(13)
Roam by San Chez
Restaurant
Hth Wine And Wood
Bar
The Chop House Grand Rapids
Bar
+10 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
Coit Creative Arts Academy
Saint Marys School
Grand Rapids Public School
Grand Rapids Learning Center
Lexington
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(13)
8th Day Gym
Fitness Center
Fitness Center
Communitea Wellness
Fitness Center
+10 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(9)
Downtown Westside Dog Park
Dog Park
Hillcrest Dog Park
Dog Park
Covell Dog Park
Dog Park
+6 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(6)
Bike Path
Bike Path
Belknap Lookout Trail
Bike Path
Fish Ladder Park Trail
Bike Path
+3 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(14)
Walgreens Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Walker Street Pharmacy
Pharmacy
+11 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(2)
📚 Libraries(13)
+10 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(4)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
EV Charging
“Selling my family’s lake house was emotional and overwhelming, but Jon Hazeltine made the entire process so much easier. He was supportive, compassionate, and always there every step of the way, while somehow keeping things light when we ne…”— Lisa SinclairRead all 34 reviews of Jon →
Jon Hazeltine
Grand Rapids Real Estate Co
Local Expert
Ask Jon about this neighborhood — availability, schools, what it's really like to live here.
Living in Downtown: the details
Is Downtown a good place to live?
If you're after a walkable setting and a spot close to downtown Grand Rapids, Downtown is worth a close look — here is what the data shows. Day to day, you can walk to groceries, cafés and parks for many everyday errands, though a car still helps for bigger trips. This neighborhood is part of Grand Rapids Public Schools. Expect prices centered around $365,000.
What does it cost to live in Downtown?
The median home value in Downtown is about $365,000. There are 15 homes for sale here right now and 23 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Downtown
- What do homes cost in Downtown?
- The median home value in Downtown is about $365,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Downtown housing market?
- there are 15 homes for sale in Downtown right now, and 23 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Downtown?
- Downtown is served by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is City MiddleHigh (8/10).
- Is Downtown walkable?
- Downtown scores 6.7/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
