What’s the best part of Grand Rapids?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
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 based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
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?
If you’re thinking of moving to Michigan and Grand Rapids is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Grand Rapids for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Millbrook 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.
For more Michigan reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Michigan
- Cheapest Places To Live In Michigan
- Most Dangerous Places in Michigan
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Grand Rapids
Population: 6,637
Median Home Value: $188,000 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $70,289 (Sixth best)
More on Millbrook: Data | Real Estate
Population: 800
Median Home Value: $333,700 (best)
Median Income: $70,679 (Fifth best)
More on Ottawa Hills: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,683
Median Home Value: $175,650 (14th best)
Median Income: $58,922 (12th best)
More on East Hills: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,843
Median Home Value: $248,925 (Third best)
Median Income: $78,280 (Second best)
More on Eastown: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,640
Median Home Value: $237,600 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $68,114 (Eighth best)
More on Ridgemoor: Data | Real Estate
Population: 11,928
Median Home Value: $169,860 (16th best)
Median Income: $67,886 (Ninth best)
More on Westside Connection: Data | Real Estate
Population: 1,776
Median Home Value: $178,800 (13th best)
Median Income: $67,069 (Tenth best)
More on Michgan Oaks: Data | Real Estate
Population: 739
Median Home Value: $163,000 (17th best)
Median Income: $76,768 (Third best)
More on Cherry Run: Data | Real Estate
Population: 701
Median Home Value: $179,400 (12th best)
Median Income: $69,995 (Seventh best)
More on Eastgate: Data | Real Estate
Population: 11,383
Median Home Value: $213,238 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $72,959 (Fourth best)
More on Norteast Citizens Action: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Grand Rapids, MI Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI 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, Millbrook.
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.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Grand Rapids.
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.
The best neighborhoods in Grand Rapids are Millbrook, Ottawa Hills, East Hills, Eastown, Ridgemoor, Westside Connection, Michgan Oaks, Cherry Run, Eastgate, and Norteast Citizens Action.
As 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.
The worst neighborhoods in Grand Rapids are Black Hills, South East Community, Roosevelt Park, Oakdale, and Madison Area.
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 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millbrook | 6,637 | $188,000 | $70,289 |
| 2 | Ottawa Hills | 800 | $333,700 | $70,679 |
| 3 | East Hills | 3,683 | $175,650 | $58,922 |
| 4 | Eastown | 4,843 | $248,925 | $78,280 |
| 5 | Ridgemoor | 2,640 | $237,600 | $68,114 |
| 6 | Westside Connection | 11,928 | $169,860 | $67,886 |
| 7 | Michgan Oaks | 1,776 | $178,800 | $67,069 |
| 8 | Cherry Run | 739 | $163,000 | $76,768 |
| 9 | Eastgate | 701 | $179,400 | $69,995 |
| 10 | Norteast Citizens Action | 11,383 | $213,238 | $72,959 |
| 11 | Fulton Heights | 1,034 | $180,800 | $88,668 |
| 12 | Creston | 26,114 | $150,367 | $59,171 |
| 13 | Midtown | 3,870 | $186,875 | $52,263 |
| 14 | Heritage Hill | 3,739 | $238,709 | $50,454 |
| 15 | Highland Park | 3,324 | $131,500 | $56,041 |
| 16 | Belknap Lookout | 4,731 | $217,267 | $54,761 |
| 17 | Alger Heights | 4,344 | $136,233 | $57,904 |
| 18 | Baxter | 2,872 | $134,267 | $57,251 |
| 19 | Heartside | 3,513 | $256,700 | $41,543 |
| 20 | South East End | 4,401 | $142,933 | $51,873 |
| 21 | Swan | 5,037 | $173,950 | $49,516 |
| 22 | Garfield Park | 17,372 | $94,325 | $50,192 |
| 23 | John Ball Park | 3,599 | $121,400 | $51,944 |
| 24 | South Hill | 899 | $207,300 | $46,503 |
| 25 | Fuller Avenue | 2,019 | $108,150 | $53,517 |
| 26 | Auburn Hill | 213 | $158,400 | $35,821 |
| 27 | West Grand | 16,637 | $137,400 | $46,842 |
| 28 | Madison Area | 3,424 | $98,940 | $37,390 |
| 29 | Oakdale | 2,354 | $112,833 | $44,480 |
| 30 | Roosevelt Park | 6,380 | $90,740 | $40,341 |
| 31 | South East Community | 4,161 | $121,911 | $36,130 |
| 32 | Black Hills | 590 | $65,100 | $49,188 |