Hillside Estates
Strong schools draw families here
Median $420K·Walkability 2.6/10·Schools 9.0/10
You pull into Hillside Estates and notice right away how the lots breathe—each one a generous quarter-acre with room to actually move around, the kind of space that doesn't demand constant yardwork but rewards a little attention. This 14-acre subdivision sits close enough to downtown Grand Rapids that you're hitting the office in just over 12 minutes, yet far enough out that you're not hearing the city hum at night. Homes run around $387K, which lands you solid ground in the Forest Hills Public Schools district. A dog park is a three-minute stroll away, and if you want proper hiking, Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve is walkable in under ten minutes—the kind of thing that makes a Sunday morning feel less like an errand and more like a real break. Eighty-four restaurants cluster within a mile, along with two dozen grocery stores, so you're not isolated despite the breathing room. Gerald R. Ford Airport sits about 23 minutes south if you need it, and that neighborhood restaurant or coffee run typically means a short walk or a five-minute drive depending on what you're after.
Why people love it here
Eastern High School
- High — 5.0 mi away
- Forest Hills
- 3 rated schools in district
$420K median
- Based on 3yr sales
Park-rich area
- 15 parks within 1 mile
- Unnamed bike_path: 11 min bike
- Huff Park Trail: 11 min bike
Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Hillside Estates
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,851/mo
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. This is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS Consumer Access
Based on 4 rated schools nearby
Range: 8/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Median Sale Price
$420K
Based on 3yr sales
Parcels / Units
38
Median Lot Size
0.28 ac
0.21 ac – 0.52 ac
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve
0.4 mi
Parks Nearby
15
within 1 mile
Walkability
Limited
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
bp
Carlo’s Pizza Plainfield Ave
Scooter's Coffee
+1 more
Cesars Pub
Huff Park
Huff Park Playground
Shadow Lake
+1 more
Unnamed beach
Huff Park Short/Long Loop
dog_park
Unnamed bike_path
Comstock Riverside Park Launch
gym
+1 more
Plainfield/I-96 (NB)
+1 more
Walgreens
Yankee Clipper Library
+1 more
daycare
Celebration! Cinema North
+1 more
Crime in Hillside Estates 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 Hillside Estates home (around $420,000) at today's 6.43% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $74k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,780 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,780/mo | $74,141 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $3,201/mo | $85,369 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,342/mo | $89,116 |
Estimates use a 6.43% 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 an APR or a commitment to lend — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Local Government · area-wide
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
~$877/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,399 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.
Services for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidstwp.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Hillside Estates 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(28)
Rancho Bonito Supermarket MI
Grocery Store
bp
Grocery Store
Ken's Fruit Market
Grocery Store
+25 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(9)
Rice Wok Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant
Carlo’s Pizza Plainfield Ave
Restaurant
Restaurant
+4 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(22)
+19 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(17)
+14 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
All Saints Academy Upper Campus
Orchard View Elementary School
School
Wellerwood School
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(14)
Fitness Center at Leffingwell Ave & 3 Mile Rd
Fitness Center
Planet Fitness
Fitness Center
Pure Barre
Fitness Center
+11 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(6)
Dog Park in North End
Dog Park
Dog Park in Northeast
Dog Park
Dog Park in Celadon New Town Residential
Dog Park
+3 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(8)
+5 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(3)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(3)
Tutor Time on Grand Ridge Drive
Childcare Center
Childcare Center
Children's Choice Learning Center at Spectrum Health Child Development Center
Childcare Center
🏥 Hospitals(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
📚 Libraries(9)
+6 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(1)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Hillside Estates
- What do homes cost in Hillside Estates?
- The median home value in Hillside Estates is about $420,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- What schools serve Hillside Estates?
- Hillside Estates is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Eastern High School (10/10).
- Is Hillside Estates walkable?
- Hillside Estates scores 2.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.