Grand Rapids
Great schools with outdoor access
71 homes for sale·Median $540K·Walkability 2.0/10·Schools 8.7/10
Early morning light hits the ranch homes here just right—when the township is still quiet before the day pulls everyone toward downtown Grand Rapids, just 14 minutes away. This is a residential stretch of Kent County built on single-family homes and condo developments, where the draw isn't a waterfront or downtown buzz but rather one outsized attraction: Frederik Meijer Gardens, a 158-acre botanical garden and art museum that ranks among Michigan's most visited destinations. The sculpture park alone holds over 200 permanent works, and the tropical conservatory—Michigan's largest—hosts the nation's biggest temporary butterfly exhibitions most years. Beyond that anchor, the township itself is straightforward: groceries and restaurants sit steps from most addresses, with 558 dining options and 84 grocery stores within a mile or so. Coffee shops are a 3-minute walk. Homes here run around $540K and tend toward ranch-style construction. The nearest significant water access is John Ball Lake at 1.8 miles, or the Knapp Street Bridge boat launch at 2.2 miles if you're thinking about the water. This isn't the city—it operates as its own charter township, independent from Grand Rapids proper despite bordering it—but it's close enough that downtown feels accessible, yet far enough to breathe. Recent development along the M-44 corridor has added to that growth.
Why people love it here
Knapp Forest Elementary School
- Elementary — 1.3 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 3 rated schools in district
Near the water
- Reeds Lake — 0.6 mi
- 5 parks within 1 mile
- Grand Rapids Township Park: 7 min drive
- Crahen Valley Park: 7 min drive
$121K median household income
- $540K median · 230 sales in last 12mo
Explore Grand Rapids
Same name, different focus — Grand Rapids is also covered as:
- Grand Rapids City — city details
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Grand Rapids
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,666/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.
230 homes sold in Grand Rapids this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 6 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Grand Rapids Township Park
0.7 mi
Parks Nearby
5
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Reeds Lake
0.6 mi
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
bp
Fuji Yama Asian Bistro
+1 more
Haggerty’s
Licari's Sicilian Pizza Kitchen-No.1
Grand Rapids Township Park
Unnamed playground
Church Lake
+1 more
Unnamed beach
Crahen Valley Township Park Trails
dog_park
Knapp Street Bridge Launch
Pure Barre
+1 more
KCTC Dr/Leffingwell (SB)
+1 more
Grand Valley Pharmacist
Miller Library
daycare
Celebration! Cinema North
+1 more
Most of Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Grand Rapids home (around $540,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $87k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,268 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Grand Rapids household earns $121,328 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $777,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,268/mo | $87,143 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $3,811/mo | $101,635 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,993/mo | $106,481 |
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
9 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$109K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$249K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Grand Rapids, 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.
Local Government
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
~$879/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,410 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.
Source: grandrapidstwp.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Grand Rapids 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
$121K
Home Value (Census)
$400K
🛒 Grocery(28)
+25 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(10)
Fugi Yama
Restaurant
Fuji Yama Asian Bistro
Restaurant
Culinary Cafe
Restaurant
Zesty Gyros
Restaurant
Spoonlickers
Restaurant
+5 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(16)
+13 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(13)
+10 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
NorthPointe Christian Middle/High School
School
Kent Intermediate School District
School
Beckwith School
Northern Trails 5/6 school
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(13)
Pure Barre
Fitness Center
Orangetheory Fitness
Fitness Center
Fitness Center
+10 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(5)
Dog Park in Celadon New Town Residential
Dog Park
Dog Park in North End
Dog Park
Dog Park in Northeast
Dog Park
+2 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(7)
+4 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(11)
Grand Valley Pharmacist
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Walgreens Pharmacy
Pharmacy
+8 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(2)
🏥 Hospitals(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
📚 Libraries(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
Frequently asked about Grand Rapids
- What do homes cost in Grand Rapids?
- The median home value in Grand Rapids is about $540,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Grand Rapids housing market?
- there are 71 homes for sale in Grand Rapids right now, and 230 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Grand Rapids?
- Grand Rapids is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Eastern High School (10/10).
- Is Grand Rapids walkable?
- Grand Rapids scores 2.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
