The best suburb in the Grand Rapids area, according to data—plus, see the rest of the top 19

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Best suburbs in Grand Rapids

The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.

Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023 . But a good location comes with a cost.

A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.

What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.

Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in Grand Rapids. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.

Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Grand Rapids.

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#19. Norton Shores, Michigan

- Population: 24,984
- Median home value: $190,800
- Median rental price: $1,134

- Top schools nearby: Mona Shores High School (grade A), Lake Hills Elementary School (grade A−), Lakeshore Middle School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A−), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#18. Jamestown Charter Township, Michigan

- Population: 9,631
- Median home value: $361,000
- Median rental price: $1,078

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#17. Port Sheldon Township, Michigan

- Population: 5,238
- Median home value: $367,300
- Median rental price: $1,317

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), West Ottawa High School Campus (grade A), Black River Public School Middle/High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Holland Christian High School (grade B), Calvary Schools of Holland (grade B−), Unity Christian High School (grade B−)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#16. Crockery Township, Michigan

- Population: 4,581
- Median home value: $235,800
- Median rental price: $739

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Holmes Elementary School (grade A), Jeffers Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A−), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Grand Rapids Seventh-day Adventist Academy (grade B+)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: A−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#15. Grand Haven, Michigan

- Population: 10,961
- Median home value: $229,000
- Median rental price: $920

- Top schools nearby: Holmes Elementary School (grade A), Jeffers Elementary School (grade A), Spring Lake Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A−), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#14. Hudsonville, Michigan

- Population: 7,633
- Median home value: $244,300
- Median rental price: $1,175

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), The Potter's House High School (grade A−), Catholic Central High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#13. Cannon Township, Michigan

- Population: 14,385
- Median home value: $406,700
- Median rental price: $1,134

- Top schools nearby: Eastern Middle School (grade A), Knapp Forest Elementary School (grade A), Chandler Woods Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Catholic Central High School (grade A−), West Catholic High School (grade B+), NorthPointe Christian School (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A−
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#12. Kentwood, Michigan

- Population: 54,042
- Median home value: $227,000
- Median rental price: $1,123

- Top schools nearby: Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Northern High School (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#11. Walker, Michigan

- Population: 25,175
- Median home value: $246,000
- Median rental price: $1,066

- Top schools nearby: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#10. Grand Haven Charter Township, Michigan

- Population: 18,158
- Median home value: $308,600
- Median rental price: $1,196

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Black River Public School Middle/High School (grade A), Rosy Mound School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B), Zeeland Christian School (grade unavailable)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#9. Spring Lake, Michigan

- Population: 2,530
- Median home value: $263,800
- Median rental price: $705

- Top schools nearby: Holmes Elementary School (grade A), Jeffers Elementary School (grade A), Spring Lake Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A−), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#8. Zeeland Charter Township, Michigan

- Population: 11,937
- Median home value: $302,600
- Median rental price: $1,116

- Top schools nearby: Eagle Crest Charter Academy (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), El Puente Elementary (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), The Potter's House High School (grade A−), Grand Rapids Seventh-day Adventist Academy (grade B+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#7. Byron Center, Michigan

- Population: 6,988
- Median home value: $337,700
- Median rental price: $982

- Top schools nearby: Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A), El Puente Elementary (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#6. Caledonia, Michigan

- Population: 1,808
- Median home value: $282,400
- Median rental price: $1,020

- Top schools nearby: Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A), Vanguard Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), South Christian High School (grade B−), Zion Christian School (grade B−)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#5. Rockford, Michigan

- Population: 6,144
- Median home value: $260,100
- Median rental price: $1,079

- Top schools nearby: Chandler Woods Charter Academy (grade A), Walker Charter Academy (grade A), Parkside Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Catholic Central High School (grade A−), West Catholic High School (grade B+), Grand Rapids Seventh-day Adventist Academy (grade B+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#4. North Muskegon, Michigan

- Population: 4,076
- Median home value: $220,800
- Median rental price: $1,302

- Top schools nearby: North Muskegon Middle School (grade A), North Muskegon Elementary School (grade A), North Muskegon High School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Muskegon Catholic Central School (grade A−), Western Michigan Christian High School (grade B+), Calvary Christian Schools (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#3. Grandville, Michigan

- Population: 16,017
- Median home value: $226,800
- Median rental price: $1,016

- Top schools nearby: Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A), Chandler Woods Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#2. Forest Hills, Michigan

- Population: 28,425
- Median home value: $442,800
- Median rental price: $1,620

- Top schools nearby: Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Northern High School (grade A+), Ada Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#1. East Grand Rapids, Michigan

- Population: 11,385
- Median home value: $451,900
- Median rental price: $1,700

- Top schools nearby: City Middle/High School (grade A+), Cross Creek Charter Academy (grade A+), Excel Charter Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: West Michigan Lutheran High School (grade A), Grand Rapids Christian High School (grade A−), The Potter's House High School (grade A−)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C−
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.