Emerald Lake Gardens
Strong schools draw families here
Median $335K·Walkability 2.8/10·Schools 9.0/10
Emerald Lake Gardens sits on 87 acres where you're surrounded by enough green space that you'll actually use it—there's a nature preserve a 13-minute walk away, three parks within a mile, and a dog park just as close if your house has four legs. Downtown Grand Rapids is 13.7 minutes by car, which means commuting isn't theater, and the airport is 23 minutes if you need to vanish for a few days. Homes here run around $313K on lots averaging 0.4 acres, which gives you actual space without the property tax surprise—and you're zoned for Forest Hills Public Schools. Groceries and restaurants are a 12-minute walk, though you've got 126 restaurants within a mile if you're feeling ambitious, and the transit stop is an 11-minute walk away. This is the kind of place where your commute doesn't eat your life, and you can get to both coffee and dinner without planning an expedition.
Why people love it here
Eastern High School
- High — 4.6 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 3 rated schools in district
$335K median
- 4 sales in last 12mo
Park-rich area
- 15 parks within 1 mile
- Perch Lake: 12 min walk
- Shadow Lake: 7 min bike
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Emerald Lake Gardens
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,271/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.
4 homes sold in Emerald Lake Gardens this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 5 rated schools nearby
Range: 8/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Median Sale Price
$335K
4 sales in last 12mo
Parcels / Units
119
Median Lot Size
0.34 ac
0.17 ac – 1.4 ac
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve
0.7 mi
Parks Nearby
15
within 1 mile
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Ken's Fruit Market
Bud & Stanley's
+1 more
Biggby Coffee
+1 more
Bud & Stanleys Pub & Grub
Dean Lake Park
Unnamed playground
Perch Lake
+1 more
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve Beach
Huff Park Short/Long Loop
dog_park
Unnamed bike path
Comstock Riverside Park Launch
+1 more
gym
+1 more
Plainfield/Elmdale (NB)
+1 more
Walgreens
KDL - Plainfield Township Branch
+1 more
daycare
Celebration! Cinema North
+2 more
Crime in Emerald Lake Gardens 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 Emerald Lake Gardens home (around $334,500) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $59k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,225 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,225/mo | $59,329 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,561/mo | $68,307 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,674/mo | $71,309 |
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
Grand Rapids Charter Township
Source: grandrapidstwp.org · 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 ~6,399 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Resident-arranged private hauler
Township lists private haulers; Kent County DPW waste guide at reimaginetrash.org.
Services for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidstwp.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Emerald Lake Gardens 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(28)
Rancho Bonito Supermarket MI
Grocery Store
Ken's Fruit Market
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
+25 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(7)
Rice Wok Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Fast Food
Carlo’s Pizza Plainfield Ave
Restaurant
+2 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(16)
+13 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(18)
+15 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
Orchard View Elementary School
School
All Saints Academy Upper Campus
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(12)
Fitness Center at Leffingwell Ave & 3 Mile Rd
Fitness Center
Planet Fitness
Fitness Center
YogaSix
Fitness Center
+9 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(6)
Dog Park in North End
Dog Park
Dog Park in Celadon New Town Residential
Dog Park
Dog Park in Northeast
Dog Park
+3 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(7)
+4 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(3)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(3)
Tutor Time on Grand Ridge Drive
Childcare Center
Childcare Center
Children's Choice Learning Center at Spectrum Health Child Development Center
Childcare Center
🏥 Hospitals(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
📚 Libraries(9)
+6 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(1)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Emerald Lake Gardens
- What do homes cost in Emerald Lake Gardens?
- The median home value in Emerald Lake Gardens is about $334,500. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Emerald Lake Gardens housing market?
- no homes are listed in Emerald Lake Gardens right now, and 4 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Emerald Lake Gardens?
- Emerald Lake Gardens is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Eastern High School (10/10).
- Is Emerald Lake Gardens walkable?
- Emerald Lake Gardens scores 2.8/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.