Plainwell
Solid value in a growing area
The quick answer
Plainwell is a walkable city, part of Plainwell Community Schools. Homes here typically sell for around $252,000.
8 homes for sale·Median $252K·Walkability 6.3/10·Schools 5.2/10
You can't enter downtown Plainwell without crossing a bridge—the Kalamazoo River literally wraps around it, creating what locals call the Island City, and that geography shapes everything about how the place feels. There's a riverwalk trail that loops through seven parks and connects the downtown core, where restaurants and ice cream shops sit steps from each other and grocery stores cluster nearby; on weekends you'll find the storefronts decorated for the Harvest Stroll or the Island City Festival, events that bring the whole town out. With around 3,800 residents and homes running around $260K, it functions as a bedroom community for Kalamazoo (about ten miles south) and the southern edges of Grand Rapids, making it an easy 42-minute drive north if you need that pull. The actual downtown is an island formed by a millrace cut from the river in the 1830s—not just a neighborhood, but an honest incorporated city with two nationally-recognized historic districts and a long backbone of local business. Two ice cream shops here, Plainwell Ice Cream and Dean's, have earned regional recognition enough that people drive in specifically for them, which tells you something about the kind of place this is: small enough that a good ice cream shop becomes part of your identity, but real enough to have actual history woven through it.
Why people love it here
$66K median household income
- $252K median · 35 sales in last 12mo
Very walkable
- Tenth Street Saloon: 4 min walk
- 9 places within a 10 min walk
Plainwell High School
- High — 0.8 mi away
- Plainwell
- 5 rated schools in district
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Plainwell
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,711/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.
35 homes sold in Plainwell this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthMedian Income
$66K
Household
Median Sale · Houses
$263K
32 sales in last 12mo
Median Sale · Condos
$225K
3 sales in last 12mo
Expected Rent
$1,100/mo
$1,000 – $1,175 · estimated range
Parcels
1
Walkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Harding's Market
Old Plank Road
+1 more
Island City Coffee
+1 more
Tenth Street Saloon
Fannie Pell Park
+1 more
Playground in Corporation Plat Area
Dog Park in Corporation Plat Area
Unnamed bike_path
River Bend Yoga
Meijer Pharmacy
Ransom District Library
Plainwell Corners Preschool
M-89 Cinema
Based on 5 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 8/10
School District: Plainwell Community Schools
In 2024, the most common reported offenses in Plainwell were larceny / theft (937 per 100,000 residents) and burglary (161 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 | 937 |
| Burglary | 161 |
| Rape | 134 |
| Aggravated assault | 134 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 107 |
| Arson | 27 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 |
How Plainwell compares to similar-size Michigan cities
| City | Population | Violent /100k | Property /100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | 4,089 | 196 | 685 |
| North Muskegon | 4,078 | 49 | 564 |
| Otsego | 4,036 | 223 | 842 |
| Portland | 3,791 | 53 | 396 |
| Plainwell | 3,734 | 268 | 1,232 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Plainwell 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 Plainwell home (around $252,010) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $44k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,633 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Plainwell household earns $65,846 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $404,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,633/mo | $43,539 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $1,889/mo | $50,378 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $1,975/mo | $52,677 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 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
$27K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$383K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
2 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$337K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$116K
Median
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
~$904/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,323 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Resident-arranged hauler
Confirm hauler with city.
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Electric via Consumers.
Confirm by addressSource: plainwell.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Plainwell 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
$66K
Home Value (Census)
$191K
Expected Rent
$1,100/mo
$1,000 – $1,175 · estimated range
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Fannie Pell Park
0.4 mi
Parks Nearby
35
within 1 mile
🛒 Grocery(4)
Harding's Market
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
Grocery Store
+1 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(5)
SW's Donut Mill
Restaurant
Restaurant
Old Plank Road
Restaurant
Fast Food
☕ Coffee(5)
+2 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(10)
School
School
School
School
School
+5 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(1)
River Bend Yoga
Fitness Center
🐕 Dog Parks(1)
Dog Park in Corporation Plat Area
Dog Park
🚴 Trails(6)
Unnamed bike_path
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
Cycleway loop off M 89
Bike Path
+3 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(1)
Plainwell Corners Preschool
Daycare
🏥 Hospitals(1)
Hospital
📚 Libraries(2)
Otsego District Public Library
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Plainwell? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in Plainwell: the details
Is Plainwell a good place to live?
Plainwell suits buyers looking for a walkable setting — here is what the data shows. Day to day, you can walk to groceries, cafés and parks for many everyday errands, though a car still helps for bigger trips. This city is part of Plainwell Community Schools. The going price is around $252,000.
What does it cost to live in Plainwell?
Homes in Plainwell sell for a median of about $252,000. There are 8 homes for sale here right now and 35 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Plainwell
- What do homes cost in Plainwell?
- The median home value in Plainwell is about $252,010. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Plainwell housing market?
- there are 8 homes for sale in Plainwell right now, and 35 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Plainwell?
- Plainwell is served by Plainwell Community Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Plainwell High School (8/10).
- Is Plainwell walkable?
- Plainwell scores 6.3/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
