Grand Rapids, MI, is an iconic Midwestern city. With great museums and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s no wonder Grand Rapids is also home to nearly 197,400 people. If you’re considering buying a home in Grand Rapids, you’ll find that the median home sale price is $143,000. And if you’re looking to rent an apartment in Grand Rapids, the average rent price is $1,583.
But if you’re not sure about living in Grand Rapids, but want to stay close to the city, we’ve got options to help you find a home. At Redfin, we’ve collected the 10 best Grand Rapids suburbs to consider moving to. And they’re all less than 14 miles away from the city center. Let’s check these suburbs out.
#1: Wyoming
Median home price: $260,000
Average sale price per square foot: $206
Average rent for an apartment: $1,965
Distance from Grand Rapids: 5 miles
Wyoming, MI homes for sale
Wyoming, MI apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $260,000, Wyoming is the first city on our list of Grand Rapids suburbs. About 76,500 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about 5 miles away from downtown Grand Rapids. Living in Wyoming, you can explore Millennium Park, a large urban park offering walking and biking trails, a beach, and recreational opportunities around a lake, check out downtown Wyoming, and tee off at Maple Hill Golf Club, a public golf course.
#2: Comstock Park
Median home price: $270,000
Average sale price per square foot: $224
Distance from Grand Rapids: 8 miles
Comstock Park, MI homes for sale
Comstock Park, MI apartments for rent
The second suburb on our list is Comstock Park, only 8 miles from the city center. When living in this suburb of 10,500 people, you can spend time exploring the charming downtown. Make sure to also check out Dwight Lydell Park where you’ll find plenty of green spaces, watch a baseball game at LMCU Ballpark, and take in the views of the Grand River.
#3: Kentwood
Median home price: $286,750
Average sale price per square foot: $202
Average rent for an apartment: $1,650
Distance from Grand Rapids: 9 miles
Kentwood, MI homes for sale
Kentwood, MI apartments for rent
Taking the third spot on our list is Kenwood. The area has a median home sale price of $286,750 and is only a 9 mile drive from Grand Rapids. From parks and outdoor recreation to shopping, there’s lots of things that make Kentwood a great place to live. If you find yourself moving to the third suburb, make sure to visit Paris Park Nature Reserve and hike along the Paul Henry Wing Trail.
#4: Northview
Median home price: $291,000
Average sale price per square foot: $193
Distance from Grand Rapids: 10 miles
Northview, MI homes for sale
Northview, MI apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Kentwood is none other than Northview. About 15,300 people live in this Grand Rapids suburb, where you can spend time outside at Donald Lamoreaux Park.
#5: Walker
Median home price: $295,000
Average sale price per square foot: $236
Average rent for an apartment: $1,624
Distance from Grand Rapids: 8 miles
Walker, MI homes for sale
Walker, MI apartments for rent
Only an 8 mile drive into the city, consider adding Walker to your list of Grand Rapids suburbs to consider moving to this year. With 25,100 residents, moving to this suburb can keep you close enough to Grand Rapids, without paying the premium for a home there. Living in Walker, you can check out the expansive Millennium Park and explore the Blandford Nature Center.
#6: Jenison
Median home price: $312,450
Average sale price per square foot: $220
Distance from Grand Rapids: 10 miles
Jenison, MI homes for sale
Jenison, MI apartments for rent
Another noteworthy Grand Rapids suburb is Jenison. Home to roughly 16,600 people, Jenison is a great suburb to consider buying a home in. Make sure to explore Hager Park, watch a performance at Jenison Center for the Arts, and visit Maplewood Park which has views of Maplewood Lake.
#7: Cutlerville
Median home price: $350,000
Average sale price per square foot: $184
Average rent for an apartment: $1,174
Distance from Grand Rapids: 10 miles
Cutlerville, MI homes for sale
Cutlerville, MI apartments for rent
Claiming the seventh spot on our list of Grand Rapids suburbs is Cutlerville, which is only a 10 mile drive into the heart of the city. With a population of nearly 17,800, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to do in Cutlerville. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to grab a meal at one of the local restaurants or check out one of the many parks in town.
#8: Grandville
Median home price: $350,000
Average sale price per square foot: $207
Average rent for an apartment: $1,729
Distance from Grand Rapids: 8 miles
Grandville, MI homes for sale
Grandville, MI apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in or around Grand Rapids for a while, chances are you know of our eighth suburb – Grandville. About 16,100 people live in Grandville, so you’ll have a fraction of Grand Rapids’s population while remaining only 8 miles from the city. Once moving to Grandville you’ll want to explore Heritage Park which has a lake, and walk along the Buck Creek Trail.
#9: Byron Center
Median home price: $357,500
Average sale price per square foot: $231
Distance from Grand Rapids: 14 miles
Byron Center, MI homes for sale
Byron Center, MI apartments for rent
Another great place to consider living in that will get you access to downtown Grand Rapids in just about 14 miles is Byron Center. Close to 7,400 people live in this suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by quaint suburbs to explore in your free time. Attractions in Byron Center include checking out Whistlestop Park and exploring the charming shops in downtown Byron Center.
#10: Hudsonville
Median home price: $367,000
Average sale price per square foot: $213
Distance from Grand Rapids: 14 miles
Hudsonville, MI homes for sale
Hudsonville, MI apartments for rent
Last but not least on our list of Grand Rapids suburbs is Hudsonville. If you’re lucky to avoid traffic, it’ll only take about 20 minutes to drive into Grand Rapids. This suburb has a population of 7,600 and you can explore the picturesque Hudsonville Nature Center and grab a meal at one of the local restaurants. You’ll have plenty of activities to explore during your free time living in Hudsonville.
Methodology: Whether a suburb was under a 14-mile drive from downtown Grand Rapids. Median home sale price data and average rent price from the Redfin Data Center during December 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.