Gaines
Surrounded by nature
71 homes for sale·Median $412K·Walkability 1.1/10·Schools 5.8/10
Tree-lined roads wind through Gaines Charter Township, where rural spacing meets suburban convenience just three miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. The character here comes from that particular Michigan blend: enough distance to breathe, enough proximity to skip the long commute. Prairie Wolf Park anchors the natural side of things, its forty-five acres of paved and natural-surface trails drawing people out year-round—spring is especially good, when apple blossoms blanket the whole place. New neighborhoods keep appearing as development steadily fills in the township, but the bones of the place remain spacious rather than cramped. Schools are served by Cross Creek Charter Academy, and low property taxes have long made this corner of Kent County attractive to people settling down here.
Why people love it here
Near the water
- Green Lake — 1.0 mi
- 10 parks within 1 mile
- Prairie Wolf Park: 2 min drive
- Crystals Springs East Community Park: 12 min bike
$80K median household income
- $412K median · 260 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Gaines
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,797/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.
260 homes sold in Gaines this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Crystals Springs East Community Park
0.2 mi
Parks Nearby
10
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Green Lake
1.0 mi
Based on 12 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 9/10
School District: Cross Creek Charter Academy
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
ALDI
StoneWater Country Club
+1 more
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
FireRock Grille
Prairie Wolf Park
+1 more
Unnamed playground
Emmons Lake
+1 more
Paul Henry - Thornapple Trail
dog_park
Unnamed bike_path
Campbell Lake Launch
Planet Fitness
Marketplace/Kalamazoo (EB)
+1 more
Meijer Pharmacy
Caledonia Township Branch Library
Milestones Child Development Center
Celebration Cinema South
Most of Gaines is policed by the Kent County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (660 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (108 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 660 |
| Aggravated assault | 108 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 76 |
| Burglary | 66 |
| Rape | 43 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Arson | 5 |
| Homicide | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Kent County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Kent County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Gaines alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Gaines home (around $412,050) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $66k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,468 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Gaines household earns $80,029 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $511,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,468/mo | $65,818 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,883/mo | $76,877 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,022/mo | $80,575 |
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 and median property taxes, 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
5 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$77K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$409K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
4 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$389K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$195K
Median
Who actually lends in Gaines, 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.
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
~$871/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,355 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Byron-Gaines Utility Authority
BGUA operates/maintains water system; rural fringe on private well.
Resident-arranged private hauler
Kent County Sheriff's Office (South Substation)
South Substation serves Gaines/Caledonia/Byron with dedicated township patrol units.
Gaines Charter Township Fire Department (Dutton/Cutlerville)
Two stations: Dutton and Cutlerville.
Source: gainestownship.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Gaines 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.
Median Income
$80K
Home Value (Census)
$296K
🛒 Grocery(25)
+22 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(13)
Jet's Pizza
Restaurant
Subway
Restaurant
Wingstop
Restaurant
The Red Geranium Cafe
Restaurant
+8 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(21)
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Café
Johnny's Markets
Café
Starbucks Coffee Company
Café
+18 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(13)
+10 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(27)
Cross Creek Charter Academy
Countryside Elementary School
School
+22 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(5)
Crystals Springs East Community Park
Crystal Springs East Community Park
Prairie Wolf Park
+2 more within 5 miles
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(8)
+5 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(2)
⚡ EV Charging(1)
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Gaines
- What do homes cost in Gaines?
- The median home value in Gaines is about $412,050. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Gaines housing market?
- there are 71 homes for sale in Gaines right now, and 260 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Gaines?
- Gaines is served by Cross Creek Charter Academy. Its highest-rated assigned school is Kettle Lake Elementary School (10/10).
- Is Gaines walkable?
- Gaines scores 1.1/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
