Kent County
Great schools with outdoor access
Median $353K·Walkability 1.0/10·Schools 7.3/10
Driving through Kent County feels like moving through Michigan's economic spine—you're never far from the hum of commerce, yet the landscape keeps surprising you with 43 parks threaded across 7,448 acres and over 100 miles of trails that wind past the Grand River and a constellation of lakes. Restaurants and grocers sit steps from most addresses, and the county's fourth-most-populous status in Michigan means Gerald R. Ford International Airport is only about 23 minutes away, making it genuinely useful rather than theoretical. Downtown Grand Rapids is roughly 17 minutes by car, close enough that you can access serious cultural weight—Frederik Meijer Gardens, 17 museums, a thriving restaurant scene—without living in the thick of it. Homes here run around $350K, with ranches dotting the landscape as the dominant style, and Forest Hills Public Schools anchors much of the county's residential character. What makes Kent County legible is the balance: it's shaped by major employers like Spectrum Health, Steelcase, and Meijer Incorporated, yet doesn't feel dominated by any single industry. The 2.9 percent waterways and the steady flow of recycled materials through the system suggest a place that's both built-up and conscious of itself.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Myers Lake within walking distance
- 5 parks within 1 mile
- Unnamed beach: 11 min bike
- Knapp Corner Preserve: 3 min drive
$80K median household income
- $353K median · 7390 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Kent County
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,393/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.
7390 homes sold in Kent County this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 6 rated schools nearby
Range: 3/10 to 10/10
School District: Forest Hills Public Schools
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Unnamed park
0.9 mi
Parks Nearby
5
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Myers Lake
0.0 mi
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Family Fare
Thousand Oaks Golf Club
+1 more
Tim Hortons
+1 more
LiveGolf Studios at Thousand Oaks Golf Club
+1 more
Knapp Corner Preserve
Unnamed playground
John Ball Lake
+1 more
Unnamed beach
Sunflower Ridge Trail
dog_park
3 Mile Rd & Knapp St Area Trail
Knapp Street Bridge Launch
gym
+1 more
Celebration Village
+1 more
Walgreens
KDL - Plainfield Township Branch
daycare
Celebration! Cinema North
In 2024, the most common reported offenses in Kent County 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). Comparison cities are the nearest in population, ordered by size — not ranked by crime. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Kent County home (around $352,500) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $58k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,156 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Kent County household earns $80,390 — 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% | $2,156/mo | $57,501 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,511/mo | $66,961 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,630/mo | $70,125 |
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
244 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$60K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$212K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
94 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$351K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$159K
Median
Who actually lends in Kent County, 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
~$880/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,418 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% 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 Kent County 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)
$266K
🛒 Grocery(13)
+10 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(9)
+4 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(16)
+13 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(15)
LiveGolf Studios at Thousand Oaks Golf Club
Bar
The Acorn Grille at Thousand Oaks Golf Club
Bar
Reds at Thousand Oaks
Bar
+12 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(22)
Moffitt Hill School
Egypt Valley School
School
+17 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(7)
YogaSix
Fitness Center
Fitness Center
Fitness Center at Leffingwell Ave & 3 Mile Rd
Fitness Center
+4 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(3)
🚴 Trails(4)
Bike Path
Bike Path
3 Mile Rd & Knapp St Area Trail
Bike Path
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
+1 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
📚 Libraries(3)
Frequently asked about Kent County
- What do homes cost in Kent County?
- The median home value in Kent County is about $352,500. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Kent County housing market?
- there are 1831 homes for sale in Kent County right now, and 7390 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Kent County?
- Kent County is served by Forest Hills Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Northview High School (8/10).
- Is Kent County walkable?
- Kent County scores 1.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
