Forest Hills Public Schools
Great schools with outdoor access
Median $575K·Walkability 1.8/10·Schools 8.4/10
A Big Piece of Land with Great Schools
Forest Hills is located just outside the city of Grand Rapids and provides access to all the amenities of the city while simultaneously giving residents access to world-class schools.
Technically, Forest Hills is an "unincorporated community" that exists primarily for census purposes, but locally "Forest Hills" most commonly refers to the outstanding school district by the same name. It encompasses portions of Ada Township, Grand Rapids Township, Cascade Township, and even parts of the cities of Grand Rapids and Kentwood.
Buyers who want an excellent school system and are searching for property in West Michigan will almost always find themselves asking, "Is it in Forest Hills?"
About this area
It's worth knowing that Forest Hills was built almost entirely from scratch in 1956, when residents consolidated 13 one-room schoolhouses into what's now one of Michigan's largest geographic districts—spanning 68 square miles across about 38,000 acres. Today the district serves over 9,000 students across 18 schools, including three high schools (Central, Northern, and Eastern) deliberately kept separate so each one stays small and connected rather than one sprawling building. There's also Goodwillie Environmental School, which was the first LEED-certified school in the world and runs a genuinely unusual program for fifth and sixth graders—kids raise chickens, sleep outside on overnight camps, and learn through nature instead of just textbooks. The homecoming parade is Michigan's largest, with over 80 floats and a 270-piece marching band that honestly tells you something about how the place is wired. Homes here run around $574K, and you're about 17 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids if you need the city; there's a fine arts center, an aquatic building, and enough restaurants and grocers within steps that you barely need to leave the neighborhood for anything. The district's land is threaded with creeks and small lakes—Thornapple River, Honey Creek, Scenic Lake—so there's actual woods and water scattered through an otherwise suburban setting.
Why people love it here
Near the water
- Reeds Lake — 0.6 mi
- 10 parks within 1 mile
- Ada Dr Area Trail: 7 min bike
- Unnamed bike_path: 7 min bike
Ada Elementary School
- Elementary — 1.3 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 4 rated schools in district
$575K median
- 627 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Forest Hills Public Schools
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,904/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.
627 homes sold in Forest Hills Public Schools this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 8 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Carl Creek Crossings Preserve
0.5 mi
Parks Nearby
10
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Reeds Lake
0.6 mi
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Ada Market
Vitales Pizza of Ada Inc
+1 more
Brody's Be Cafe
Schnitz Ada Grill
+1 more
Carl Creek Wetlands Preserve
Unnamed playground
Paradise Lake
+1 more
Unnamed beach
Ada Township Trails
Ada Dr Area Trail
Ada - Grand River Launch
Walgreens
Amy Van Andel Library (KDL)
Celebration! Cinema North
Crime in Forest Hills Public Schools 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 Public Schools home (around $575,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $102k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,824 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,824/mo | $101,986 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $4,403/mo | $117,418 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $4,597/mo | $122,578 |
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.
Land for sale
Listings
22 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$187K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$325K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Forest Hills Public Schools, 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
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
Utility, solar, and service details for Forest Hills Public Schools 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(19)
Ada Fresh Market
Grocery Store
Ada Market
Grocery Store
Forest Hills Foods
Grocery Store
+16 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(14)
Vitales Pizza of Ada Inc
Restaurant
Vitale's of Ada
Restaurant
Kamchi
Restaurant
Lalo's Mexican Grill & Bar
Restaurant
Fast Food
+9 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(20)
+17 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(22)
Schnitz Ada Grill
Bar
The Lark - Wine Bar of Ada
Bar
Zeytin Turkish Restaurant
Bar
+19 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(23)
Knapp School
School
School
+18 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(6)
The Other Body Shop
Fitness Center
Planet Fitness
Fitness Center
Orangetheory Fitness
Fitness Center
+3 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(3)
🚴 Trails(5)
+2 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(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(1)
Tutor Time on Grand Ridge Drive
Childcare Center
🏥 Hospitals(1)
Forest View Hospital
Hospital
📚 Libraries(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(2)
ChargePoint
EV Charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Forest Hills Public Schools
- What do homes cost in Forest Hills Public Schools?
- The median home value in Forest Hills Public Schools is about $575,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Forest Hills Public Schools housing market?
- there are 163 homes for sale in Forest Hills Public Schools right now, and 627 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Forest Hills Public Schools?
- Forest Hills Public Schools is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Ada Elementary School (10/10).
- Is Forest Hills Public Schools walkable?
- Forest Hills Public Schools scores 1.8/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.