The 10 Best Neighborhoods In Grand Rapids For 2022


We used science and data to determine which neighborhoods in Grand Rapids are the best of the best.

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Do you like your neighborhood?

Is it friendly, and where everyone knows their neighbors?

No matter if you live in the sticks or in an apartment building in downtown Grand Rapids, you have a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood is different.

Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits -- less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Grand Rapids neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?

Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Grand Rapids are the best. If you're in one of the places we're about to highlight, odds are you know you've got it made. So, if you're thinking of moving to Michigan and Grand Rapids is on the top of your list, check out our best neighborhoods to live in.

Here are the best neighborhoods in Grand Rapids for 2022.

So what's the best neighborhood to live in Grand Rapids for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Ridgemoor looks to be the best Grand Rapids neighborhood to live in.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Grand Rapids that deserve a little bragging rights or maybe you're interested in the worst neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.

Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from best to worst.

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Best Neighborhoods In Grand Rapids

The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Grand Rapids

Population: 2,764
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $184,033 (Second best)
Median Income: $66,714 (Second best)
More on Ridgemoor: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 1,776
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $178,800 (Third best)
Median Income: $67,069 (best)
More on Michgan Oaks: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 5,495
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $153,925 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $59,200 (Fifth best)
More on Eastown: Homes For Sale | Data

Eastown Grand Rapids, MI

Source: Public domain

Population: 11,538
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $131,722 (13th best)
Median Income: $56,785 (Seventh best)
More on Westside Connection: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 10,743
Rank Last Year: 6 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $173,675 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $58,311 (Sixth best)
More on Norteast Citizens Action: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 4,048
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 1)
Median Home Value: $147,900 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $42,667 (19th best)
More on East Hills: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 5,914
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $115,040 (15th best)
Median Income: $47,338 (14th best)
More on Millbrook: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 665
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $137,000 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $66,020 (Third best)
More on Cherry Run: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 794
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 3)
Median Home Value: $162,800 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $56,521 (Eighth best)
More on Ottawa Hills: Homes For Sale | Data

Population: 25,177
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $110,833 (16th best)
Median Income: $48,193 (12th best)
More on Creston: Homes For Sale | Data

Methodology: How We Determined The Best Grand Rapids, MI Neighborhoods In 2022

In order to rank the best neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, we had to determine what criteria defines a "best".

Using crime, census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:

  • High incomes
  • Low unemployment rates
  • Low crime
  • High home prices
  • High population densities (A proxy for things to do)

We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 32 in each category, where 1 was the best.

Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.

And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index the "Best City Neighborhood In Grand Rapids." We're lookin' at you, Ridgemoor.

Read on below to learn more about what it's like to live in the best places Grand Rapids, Michigan has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city from best to worst.

Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Grand Rapids

If you're measuring the neighborhoods in Grand Rapids where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Grand Rapids aren't all good. Black Hills takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Grand Rapids.

We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Best Neighborhoods To Live In Grand Rapids For 2022 Detailed Data

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Ridgemoor 2,764 $184,033 $66,714
2 Michgan Oaks 1,776 $178,800 $67,069
3 Eastown 5,495 $153,925 $59,200
4 Westside Connection 11,538 $131,722 $56,785
5 Norteast Citizens Action 10,743 $173,675 $58,311
6 East Hills 4,048 $147,900 $42,667
7 Millbrook 5,914 $115,040 $47,338
8 Cherry Run 665 $137,000 $66,020
9 Ottawa Hills 794 $162,800 $56,521
10 Creston 25,177 $110,833 $48,193
11 Midtown 3,926 $96,925 $47,443
12 Heritage Hill 3,370 $174,950 $43,151
13 Eastgate 1,783 $134,767 $55,292
14 Alger Heights 4,188 $103,900 $49,986
15 Belknap Lookout 4,699 $154,833 $51,441
16 Heartside 3,007 $220,350 $40,313
17 Fulton Heights 1,169 $136,800 $61,838
18 Highland Park 3,339 $89,775 $40,522
19 South East End 4,933 $102,429 $41,723
20 Auburn Hill 175 $128,900 $29,333
21 John Ball Park 3,923 $96,150 $46,033
22 Swan 4,793 $99,886 $39,084
23 Fuller Avenue 2,004 $103,225 $42,868
24 West Grand 16,104 $92,481 $36,317
25 South Hill 761 $95,100 $43,048
26 Garfield Park 16,114 $69,967 $35,081
27 Baxter 2,355 $98,800 $32,854
28 Roosevelt Park 6,573 $55,380 $30,715
29 Oakdale 2,519 $83,425 $33,986
30 Madison Area 3,249 $67,125 $27,014
31 South East Community 3,964 $75,778 $30,508
32 Black Hills 457 $50,400 $18,681

Editor's Note: We updated this article for 2022. This is our ninth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Grand Rapids.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.