Lowell
Strong schools draw families here
9 homes for sale·Median $296K·Walkability 6.3/10·Schools 7.7/10
The thing you'll notice first is the river—the Flat River slides right through downtown, and the historic Showboat, rebuilt nearly a hundred times since the Great Depression, sits waiting on the water like it's always been there. It's a small city of about 4,100 people, fifteen miles east of Grand Rapids, where Victorian storefronts line streets with original architecture and a working covered bridge—one of only three you can actually drive across in Michigan—spans the water just outside town. The downtown feels lived-in rather than polished: restaurants and coffee shops are steps from wherever you're standing, and the North Country Trail, a major hiking route, runs straight through, which means the place has drawn outdoors-minded people without turning into a resort. There's a social district covering five blocks where you can buy a drink and walk around with it, and ten weeks of free concerts run through summer on Tuesday nights. If you need to get to Gerald R. Ford Airport or downtown Grand Rapids proper, you're looking at about twenty-five to thirty minutes—close enough to matter, far enough to feel separate.
Why people love it here
Lowell Senior High School
- High — 2.2 mi away
- Lowell
- 3 rated schools in district
$71K median household income
- $296K median · 71 sales in last 12mo
Very walkable
- Unnamed playground: 1 min walk
- 12 places within a 10 min walk
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Lowell
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,013/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.
71 homes sold in Lowell this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 7/10 to 9/10
School District: Lowell Area Schools
Walkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
bp
Little Caesars Pizza
+1 more
Meds cafe
+1 more
New Union Brewery
+1 more
Richards Park
+1 more
Unnamed playground
Stoney Lake
+1 more
Stoney Lakeside Park Beach
Cooper Woodland Trail
Animal Hospital of Lowell Dog Park
Unnamed bike path
Lowell - Grand River Launch
Walgreens
Ada-Lowell 5 Theatres
In 2024, the most common reported offenses in Lowell were larceny / theft (587 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (147 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting — with a comparison to similar-size Michigan cities below.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 587 |
| Aggravated assault | 147 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 73 |
| Rape | 49 |
| Burglary | 24 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 |
| Arson | 0 |
How Lowell compares to similar-size Michigan cities
| City | Population | Violent /100k | Property /100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | 4,279 | 210 | 795 |
| Roosevelt Park | 4,120 | 267 | 5,631 |
| Lowell | 4,089 | 196 | 685 |
| North Muskegon | 4,078 | 49 | 564 |
| Otsego | 4,036 | 223 | 842 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Lowell Police Department, 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 Lowell home (around $296,475) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $49k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,837 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Lowell household earns $71,406 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $452,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,837/mo | $48,978 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,135/mo | $56,935 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,235/mo | $59,595 |
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
2 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$148K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$333K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Lowell, 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
~$697/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,296 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Resident-arranged private hauler
Lowell Light & Power · ~11.1¢/kWh
Municipal electric utility since 1896; serves city + parts of Lowell/Vergennes Twps.
Confirm by addressLowell Area Fire & Emergency Services Authority
Joint authority of City + Lowell Twp + Vergennes Twp. 315 S Hudson.
Source: lowellmi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for Lowell 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
$71K
Home Value (Census)
$231K
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Richards Park
0.3 mi
Parks Nearby
27
within 1 mile
🍕 Restaurants(14)
Little Caesars Pizza
Restaurant
Sabor Mexicano
Restaurant
Fish and Chicken Express
Restaurant
Los Portales Bar and Grill
Restaurant
Mynt Fusion Bistro
Restaurant
+9 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(5)
New Union Brewery
Bar
Red Barn Consignment & Antiques DBA Red Barn Mercantile
Bar
Sneaker's
Bar
+2 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(1)
Lowell Senior High
School
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(1)
Animal Hospital of Lowell Dog Park
Dog Park
🚴 Trails(4)
Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail
Bike Path
Creekside Park Trail
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
+1 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
💊 Pharmacies(1)
Walgreens
Pharmacy
⚡ EV Charging(1)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Lowell
- What do homes cost in Lowell?
- The median home value in Lowell is about $296,475. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Lowell housing market?
- there are 9 homes for sale in Lowell right now, and 71 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Lowell?
- Lowell is served by Lowell Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Lowell Senior High School (9/10).
- Is Lowell walkable?
- Lowell scores 6.3/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
