Hazen Heights

What surprises most people about Hazen Heights is how much living space you actually get for the price—homes here run around $249K, and the Cape Cod architecture gives the whole subdivision a clean, consistent feel. You're on the east side of the Hazen Heights Area, just 7 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, so you're close enough to catch everything the city has to offer without fighting the commute every morning. The neighborhood itself is compact at 34 acres with lots averaging just under a quarter-acre, but what it lacks in sprawl it makes up for in access: there are 30 restaurants within a mile, a transit stop steps away, and Godwin Heights Public Schools serving the area. Plaster Creek park is a short 9-minute walk, and if you're into water, Butterworth Park launch is about 3 miles out. Day-to-day stuff—groceries, coffee, dinner—doesn't require a second thought; the nearest restaurant is practically next door, and you've got 36 grocery stores within a couple miles. Gerald R. Ford Airport is 18 minutes south if you travel often.