Real Estate Blog

 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.

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan

#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.

The Devos Place performance hall in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chapped'Lypse 2007

#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.

Dusk along the Grand River, Grand Rapids, Michigan

#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.