Forest Hills
Great schools with outdoor access
Median $625K·Walkability 6.1/10·Schools 8.3/10
What catches people off guard is that this stretch of Kent County reads more like a wooded enclave than a suburb—rolling terrain thick with pines and shade trees, the kind of place where corner lots sprawl and home designs range from gated Old World estates to modern ranches with walk-out basements overlooking private courtyards. Located east of Grand Rapids, the area draws families who value space; many properties sit on half-acre lots or larger, with decks, patios, and wooded views woven into the everyday rhythm. Schools here anchor the character—the Forest Hills Public Schools district consolidated from a dozen one-room schools back in 1956 and remains central to why people settle in. Homes tend toward thoughtful construction, with hardwood, cathedral ceilings, and built-ins showing up across listings, while local touches like Forest Hills Foods grocery store, which emphasizes Michigan brands, keep the commercial life grounded and local. A handful of parks—Cascade Peace Park, Roselle Park, Siedman Park—punctuate the landscape, and seasonal events like Ada's Chili and Beer Festival add rhythm to the calendar without overwhelming the essential character: quiet residential streets where the greenery does most of the talking.
Why people love it here
Ada Elementary School
- Elementary — 0.4 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 4 rated schools in district
Park-rich area
- 25 parks within 1 mile
- Ada Dr Area Trail: 4 min walk
- Unnamed bike path: 4 min walk
Very walkable
- Amy Van Andel Library (KDL): 3 min walk
- 17 places within a 10 min walk
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Forest Hills
Estimated Monthly Payment
$4,243/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.
350 homes sold in Forest Hills this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 7 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Walkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Ada Market
+1 more
McDonald's
Brody's Be Cafe
Schnitz Ada Grill
Settler's Grove Township Park
Unnamed playground
Paradise Lake
Unnamed beach
Ada Township Trails
Shaggy Pines Dog Park Dog Park
Ada Dr Area Trail
Ada - Grand River Launch
Walgreens
Amy Van Andel Library (KDL)
daycare
Phoenix Theatres Woodland Mall
Crime in Forest Hills 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 Forest Hills home (around $625,000) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $112k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $4,213 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $4,213/mo | $112,350 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $4,849/mo | $129,311 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $5,063/mo | $135,013 |
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
15 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$188K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$385K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Forest Hills, 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.
Solar potential
~$869/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,340 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Septic (individual)
Based on assessor parcel records
Utility, solar, and service details for Forest Hills 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(8)
Ada Fresh Market
Grocery Store
Ada Market
Grocery Store
Harvest Health Foods
Grocery Store
+5 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(10)
Blimpie's
Fast Food
Hungry Howie's Pizza
Restaurant
Fast Food
Nonna's: The Trattoria
Restaurant
Ada Garage Bar & Grill
Restaurant
+5 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(13)
+10 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(18)
Schnitz Ada Grill
Bar
The Lark - Wine Bar of Ada
Bar
Zeytin Turkish Restaurant
Bar
+15 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(15)
School
Knapp School
School
+10 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(3)
🚴 Trails(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(14)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+11 more within 5 miles
🏥 Hospitals(1)
Forest View Hospital
Hospital
📚 Libraries(2)
Amy Van Andel Library (KDL)
⚡ EV Charging(2)
ChargePoint
EV Charging
EV Charging
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Forest Hills? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Frequently asked about Forest Hills
- What do homes cost in Forest Hills?
- The median home value in Forest Hills is about $625,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Forest Hills housing market?
- there are 86 homes for sale in Forest Hills right now, and 350 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Forest Hills?
- Forest Hills is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Ada Elementary School (10/10).
- Is Forest Hills walkable?
- Forest Hills scores 6.1/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Forest Hills
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