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Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate

A hyper-local geographic knowledge system for Greater Grand Rapids. Fall in love with a place, then find a home there.

The flagship city of Neighborhood Atlas.

2279 New Town Dr, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 308-7946 · support@grandrapids.realestate

Operated by Grand Rapids Real Estate Co., a sub-brokerage of AARE · Licensed broker: Jon Hazeltine, Michigan license #6502432782

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IDX data provided by MichRIC MLS · @grandrapidsrealestateco

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Home/Neighborhoods/Rockford/Sowerby Add. No.1 Area
Neighborhood293.6 acres

Sowerby Add. No.1 Area

Great schools with outdoor access

Published by Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate · data computed by Atlas · reviewed under Jon Hazeltine, Broker Associate (MI #6502432782)
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The quick answer

Sowerby Add. No.1 Area is a partly walkable neighborhood, part of Rockford Public Schools and about 12 miles from downtown Grand Rapids. Homes here typically sell for around $314,000.

Jump to:Is it a good place to live?·What it costs to live here·How safe is it?

5 homes for sale·Median $314K·Walkability 5.1/10·Schools 7.5/10

🏙️12 mito Downtown GR(~24 min drive)
🏞️34 mito Lake Michigan(~1h 8m drive)

Tell someone on the way here that you're about two-thirds of the way from downtown Grand Rapids to the middle of nowhere, and you've landed somewhere that feels intentional. The neighborhood sits within walking distance of a grocery and restaurant scene dense enough that you can eat differently every night for months—78 restaurants within a mile will do that—and a coffee shop is a two-minute walk if you need to clear your head before work. Downtown Grand Rapids itself is twenty minutes south when you want the bigger city; the airport runs about half an hour. What defines this stretch, though, is the access to what makes Rockford worth the drive in the first place: the Rogue River boat launch sits less than half a mile away, the White Pine Trail cuts through the area, and there are twenty-six parks within a mile—including the Rockford Dog Park, a two-minute walk from most homes. Rockford Public Schools serves the area. It's the kind of place where you can have restaurant density and river access in the same sentence, which is rarer than you'd think.

View all homes for sale in Rockford, MI →

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Why people love it here

🎓Schools
90

North Rockford Middle School

  • Middle — 0.6 mi away
  • Rockford
  • 5 rated schools in district
🌲Nature & Outdoors

Park-rich area

  • 130 parks within 1 mile
  • Richardson-Sowerby Park: 5 min walk
  • Richardson-Sowerby Park Beach: 6 min walk
💰Home Values

$314K median

  • 38 sales in last 12mo

Notable nearby

🛝Walk to a playground— Richardson-Sowerby Park Playground is a 6 min walk
Loading map…

Conventional Mortgage Calculator

Median home price in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area

Estimated Monthly Payment

$2,130/mo

$
$62,750
20%
%
Principal & Interest $1,62876%
Property Tax (est.)
$
18%
Insurance (est.)
$
5%

Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.

Get Pre-Approved with Guild Mortgage
Jon Hazeltine

Guild Mortgage

Loan officer: Jon Hazeltine · NMLS #2574218

Company NMLS #3274 · Licensed in MI

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.

38 homes sold in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area this year. Thinking of selling?

See what your home is worth
7.5
/10 avg
Above average schools

Based on 10 rated schools nearby

Range: 1/10 to 9/10

School District: Rockford Public Schools

9North Rockford Middle SchoolMiddle · 06-08 · 885 students · 13:1 · Assigned · 0.6 mi
8Rockford HS Freshman CenterHigh · 09-12 · 597 students · 16:1 · Assigned · 1.5 mi
8Meadow Ridge Elementary SchoolElementary · PK-05 · 439 students · 13:1 · Assigned · 1.2 mi
8Rockford High SchoolHigh · 09-12 · 1,819 students · 19:1 · Assigned · 1.6 mi
8Rockford Spanish ImmersionElementary · K-05 · 304 students · 21:1 · Assigned · 1.7 mi

Flood Risk

None

Not in flood zone

Nearest Park

Rockford Dog Park

0.1 mi

Parks Nearby

130

within 1 mile

Median Sale · Houses

$365K

24 sales in last 12mo

Median Sale · Condos

$215K

14 sales in last 12mo

Parks Nearby

130

within 1 mile

Nearest Park

Rockford Dog Park

0.1 mi

Expected Rent

$1,350/mo

$1,250 – $1,450 · estimated range

Walkability

5.1

Fair

Overall walkability score out of 10

🛒Daily Errands— Grocery, pharmacy
3.0
🍽️Dining— Restaurants, cafes, bars
8.0
🌳Nature— Parks, trails
4.4
🚌Transit— Bus stops, stations
0.0
💪Fitness— Gyms, recreation
5.0

Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox

🛒Grocery Stores
Bikeable

Family Fare

7 minbike· 19 min walk· 4 min drive
Family Fare Supermarket
8 minbike
Meijer
6 mindrive
Ric's Food Center
9 mindrive

+1 more

🍽️Restaurants
Short walk

MUDPENNY Rockford

7 minwalk· 3 min bike· 2 min drive
Char + Barrel
7 minwalk
Bridge Street Burger Shack
8 minwalk
Vitale's
8 minwalk

+1 more

☕Coffee Shops
Short walk

The Peppermill Grill

7 minwalk· 3 min bike· 2 min drive
Sweetland Chocolate & Coffee
8 minwalk
Sweetland Chocolates & Coffee
8 minwalk
Quickwater Coffee Roasters | Rockford
8 minwalk

+1 more

🍺Bars & Breweries
Short walk

Rogue River Tavern

7 minwalk· 3 min bike· 2 min drive
Rockford Brewing Company
9 minwalk
Corner Bar
9 minwalk
Rockford Corner Bar
9 minwalk

+1 more

🌳Parks
Short walk

Richardson-Sowerby Park

5 minwalk· 3 min bike· 1 min drive
Unnamed park
7 minwalk
Rotary Jaycee Park
8 minwalk
Pickett Park
8 minwalk

+1 more

🛝Playgrounds
Short walk

Richardson-Sowerby Park Playground

6 minwalk· 3 min bike· 1 min drive
Unnamed playground
6 minwalk
Rotary Jaycee Park Playground
8 minwalk
🏞️Lakes & Water
Quick drive

Clear Bottom Lake

7 mindrive
North Lake Bella Vista
11 mindrive
Lake Bella Vista
11 mindrive
Silver Lake
9 mindrive

+1 more

🏖️Beaches
Short walk

Richardson-Sowerby Park Beach

6 minwalk· 3 min bike· 1 min drive
Unnamed beach
6 minwalk
Garden Club Park Beach
11 minwalk
🥾Hiking Trails
Quick drive

Luton Yellow Trail

9 mindrive
Roguewood Drive Northeast
13 mindrive
🐕Dog Parks
Quick drive

dog_park

8 mindrive
🚴Bike Paths
Short walk

White Pine Trail

7 minwalk· 3 min bike· 1 min drive
⛵Boat Launches
Short walk

Rockford - Rogue River Launch

9 minwalk· 3 min bike· 2 min drive
Rogue River Launch (A-41-102)
8 mindrive
Rogue River Mouth Launch
8 mindrive
Rogue River Launch (A-41-011)
8 mindrive
💪Gyms & Fitness
Bikeable

Snap Fitness

7 minbike· 19 min walk· 4 min drive
MVP Fitness
7 minbike
💊Pharmacies
Quick drive

Walgreens

9 mindrive
📚Libraries
Short walk

Krause Memorial Library

9 minwalk· 4 min bike· 2 min drive
KDL - Plainfield Township Branch
12 mindrive
🎬Movie Theaters
Quick drive

Northstar Cinema

9 mindrive
Kent Theater
14 mindrive
Celebration! Cinema North
14 mindrive

Crime in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area 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 Rockford.

Rockford crime & safety stats →

To buy a median-priced Sowerby Add. No.1 Area home (around $313,750) at today's 6.65% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $56k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,113 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).

Down paymentMonthly paymentIncome needed
20% $2,113/mo$56,356
10% (+PMI)$2,432/mo$64,864
5% (+PMI)$2,540/mo$67,724

Estimates use a 6.65% 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.

Full Sowerby Add. No.1 Area cost-of-living breakdown →

Who actually lends in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.

Home purchases~10 loans · $3M

Loans to buy a home

Conventional 92%FHA 5%VA 3%

Most active lenders

1Lake Michigan Credit Union22%
2Independent Bank15%
3The Huntington National Bank9%
4Northpointe Bank7%
5Guild Mortgage Company7%

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

City of Rockford

616-866-1537Website

Source: rockford.mi.us · 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

~$878/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system

Produces ~6,402 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use

Water

City of Rockford Public Services (Water/Sewer)

City owns/operates water system.

Sewer

North Kent Sewer Authority (city collection)

City maintains collection; treated by North Kent Sewer Authority (PARCC Side Clean Water Plant). After-hours 616-866-9557.

Trashunconfirmed

Resident-arranged private hauler

Electricvaries by address

Consumers Energy Co · ~13.7¢/kWh

Confirm by address
Natural Gasvaries by address

SEMCO Energy / Consumers Energy

Verify by address.

Confirm by address
Police

Rockford Department of Public Safety

Public Safety officers cross-trained as police/fire/medical (merged 2012).

Fire

Rockford Department of Public Safety

Combined police/fire Public Safety dept since 2012.

Services for Rockford · Source: rockford.mi.us

Utility, solar, and service details for Sowerby Add. No.1 Area 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(7)

Family Fare

Grocery Store

0.6 mimap

Family Fare Supermarket

Grocery Store

0.6 mimap

Meijer

Grocery Store

2.2 mimap

+4 more within 5 miles

🍕 Restaurants(7)

MUDPENNY Rockford

Restaurant

0.3 mimap

Char + Barrel

Restaurant

0.3 mimap
Kawa Sushi and Grill

Restaurant

0.4 mimap

Vitale's

Restaurant

0.4 mimap

Bridge Street Burger Shack

Restaurant

0.4 mimap

+2 more within 5 miles

☕ Coffee(15)

The Peppermill Grill

Café

0.3 mimap

Quickwater Coffee Roasters | Rockford

Café

0.3 mimap
Sweetland Chocolate & Coffee

Café

0.4 mimap

+12 more within 5 miles

🍺 Bars(11)

Rockford Brewing Company

Restaurant

0.4 mimap

Digby's Deli

Bar

0.4 mimap
Rogue River Tavern

Pub

0.4 mimap

+8 more within 5 miles

🏫 Schools(8)

Parkside Elementary

School

0.7 mimap

Valley View School

1.1 mimap
Meadow Ridge Elementary School Grounds

School

1.1 mimap

Blessed Virgin School

1.2 mimap

Crestwood School

2.6 mimap

+3 more within 5 miles

💪 Gyms(3)

Snap Fitness

Fitness Center

0.7 mimap

MVP Fitness

Fitness Center

0.8 mimap

Snap Fitness

Fitness Center

3.6 mimap

🌳 Parks(3)

Rockford Dog Park

156mmap

Richardson-Sowerby Park

0.2 mimap

Pickett Park

0.2 mimap

🐕 Dog Parks(2)

Dog Park in Pine Island Dr & Algoma Ave Area

Dog Park

3.0 mimap

Dog Park in Us-131 Fwy & Edgerton Ave Area

Dog Park

4.2 mimap

🚴 Trails(1)

White Pine Trail

Bike Path

0.2 mimap

⛵ Boat Launches(4)

Rockford - Rogue River Launch

Boat Launch

0.4 mimap
Rogue River Launch (A-41-102)

Boat Launch

2.3 mimap
Rogue River Mouth Launch

Boat Launch

3.8 mimap

+1 more within 5 miles

💊 Pharmacies(1)

Walgreens

Pharmacy

4.2 mimap

📚 Libraries(1)

Krause Memorial Library

0.4 mimap
GR

Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate

Local real estate specialists

Questions about Sowerby Add. No.1 Area? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.

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Living in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area: the details

Is Sowerby Add. No.1 Area a good place to live?

If you're after a quick drive to downtown Grand Rapids and green space nearby, Sowerby Add. No.1 Area is worth a close look — here is what the data shows. Day to day, some shops, cafés and parks are within walking distance, but most errands mean a short drive. This neighborhood is part of Rockford Public Schools. Homes here typically sell for around $314,000.

What does it cost to live in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area?

Homes range from around $215,000 for condos to $365,000 for single-family houses. That spread reflects the mix of housing here rather than a single going rate. There are 5 homes for sale here right now and 38 homes sold here in the past year.

Frequently asked about Sowerby Add. No.1 Area

What do homes cost in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area?
The median home value in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area is about $313,750. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
How active is the Sowerby Add. No.1 Area housing market?
there are 5 homes for sale in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area right now, and 38 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
What schools serve Sowerby Add. No.1 Area?
Sowerby Add. No.1 Area is served by Rockford Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is North Rockford Middle School (9/10).
Is Sowerby Add. No.1 Area walkable?
Sowerby Add. No.1 Area scores 5.1/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.

Top contributors in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area

Data sources: sales, schools · Updated 8/2/2026
GR

Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate

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Conventional Mortgage Calculator

Median in Sowerby Add. No.1 Area

Estimated Monthly Payment

$2,130/mo

$
$62,750
20%
%
Principal & Interest $1,62876%
Property Tax (est.)
$
18%
Insurance (est.)
$
5%

Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.

Get Pre-Approved with Guild Mortgage
Jon Hazeltine

Guild Mortgage

Loan officer: Jon Hazeltine · NMLS #2574218

Company NMLS #3274 · Licensed in MI

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.

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