Evergreen Lane Condominiums

This is what country living looks like when you're still close enough to civilization — you get over two acres to yourself on average, with 94% of neighbors owning their own slice of paradise. The space here is real space, the kind where you can actually hear yourself think and your kids can disappear into the backyard for hours without you worrying about traffic or strangers.

When you do need to venture out, you're not exactly roughing it. There are nine grocery stores within two miles, so your weekend shopping runs are covered, and Lake Macatawa sits just three miles away for those summer days when the lawn mower can wait. The transit score here is perfect — which might sound surprising until you realize that in a place where everyone drives and parking is never an issue, that's exactly what you want. Your commute to downtown Grand Rapids is straightforward, and you'll actually enjoy the drive through some genuinely pretty countryside.

The trade-off for all this elbow room is that you're not walking to your morning coffee — the nearest café is about a mile and a half away. But honestly, most people here have embraced the ritual of making great coffee at home and saving the café visits for special occasions. Wendt Park provides your nearby green space, though with lots this size, your backyard probably offers more recreation than most city parks.

This area works best for families who want their kids to experience what it's like to grow up with actual space — to build forts, keep a garden, maybe even have a few chickens. Students here attend schools in the West Ottawa Public School District, with options ranging from solid to excellent. If you've been dreaming of that house where your nearest neighbor isn't close enough to hear your music, but you don't want to give up modern conveniences, this might be exactly what you're looking for.