Rusk
Great schools with outdoor access
Median $500K·Walkability 0.0/10·Schools 7.0/10
Out here, your morning might start with a view of the pond or a stretch of acreage rather than the neighbor's fence—properties tend to sprawl across acres with pole barns and the kind of space that lets you actually breathe. Water is woven into the texture of this place; several developments anchor around connected all-sports lakes, and newer homes seem designed specifically to frame those views through Michigan rooms and walkout decks. The craftsman-style builds that have gone up recently lean into open concepts and fireplaces, the kind of thing you'd sink into after a long day, and older homes dotted throughout still carry that rural farmhouse character with their large kitchens and land to match. You're about 30 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids if you need the city, but 24 minutes gets you to the beach at Grand Haven when the water's calling—close enough that you can chase it on a weekend without it feeling like a road trip. Allendale Community Park sits about 3 miles down the road if you want something organized, but honestly, most folks out here have their own slice of land to explore first.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Hidden Lake within walking distance
- Hidden Lake: 7 min drive
- Allendale Community Park: 7 min drive
Evergreen Elementary
- Elementary — 2.4 mi away
- Allendale
- 4 rated schools in district
$500K median
- 40 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Rusk
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,394/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.
40 homes sold in Rusk this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 6/10 to 9/10
School District: Allendale Public Schools
Nearest Park
Allendale Community Park
3.2 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Hidden Lake
0.5 mi
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Family Fare
Mr. Burger
Affogato’s Ice Cream & Coffee
Embassy Bar & Grill
Allendale Community Park
Unnamed playground
Hidden Lake
Mounds Loop
Ottawa Riverside County Park Launch
Snap Fitness
Allendale Township Library
Little Mitten Child Care
Crime in Rusk 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 Ottawa County.
Ottawa County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Rusk home (around $499,950) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $89k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,325 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,325/mo | $88,675 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $3,828/mo | $102,092 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,997/mo | $106,579 |
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, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Who actually lends in Rusk, 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.
Local Government · area-wide
Allendale Charter Township
Source: allendalemi.gov · 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
~$928/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,492 kWh/yr · offsets ~62% of a typical home's use
Municipal / public water
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
Resident-arranged hauler
Residents contract private hauler.
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Regional IOU; inferred for Ottawa County township.
Confirm by addressConsumers Energy / SEMCO Energy
Regional gas utility; inferred.
Confirm by addressOttawa County Sheriff's Office
No township PD; county sheriff with contracted deputies.
Services for Allendale · Source: allendalemi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for Rusk 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.
🍕 Restaurants(12)
Mr. Burger
Restaurant
Allendale Grill
Restaurant
Fast Food
Yellow Jacket Junction Pizza & Subs
Restaurant
Hungry Howie's Pizza
Restaurant
+7 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(1)
Fitness Center
🌳 Parks(4)
Allendale Community Park
Bass River Recreation Area
Burr Oak Landing East Open Space Area
+1 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(8)
East Loop (Section 3)
Bike Path
Dewpointe West Area Trail
Bike Path
Bike Path
Bike Path
+5 more within 5 miles
⛵ Boat Launches(1)
Boat Launch
👶 Childcare(1)
Little Mitten Child Care
Childcare Center
📚 Libraries(1)
Frequently asked about Rusk
- What do homes cost in Rusk?
- The median home value in Rusk is about $499,950. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Rusk housing market?
- there are 5 homes for sale in Rusk right now, and 40 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Rusk?
- Rusk is served by Allendale Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Evergreen Elementary (9/10).
- Is Rusk walkable?
- Rusk scores 0.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Rusk
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