It’s one thing to decide to move to a specific city, but it’s an entirely different thing to decide where in that city is right for you! If you’ve been thinking about moving to Grand Rapids, you’re making an awesome choice!

Grand Rapids, Michigan is full of so many awesome things to do and great places to eat and drink. Hit up one of the many breweries after a long day exploring the outdoors and biking around some of the great trails it has to offer, or relax at one of the many perfect picnic places in town. Tour one of the lighthouses or enjoy the day at one of the cute farmer’s markets!

There’s a lot to do here in Grand Rapids. Now there’s just the decision you have to make about where to live in Grand Rapids.

We’ve compiled a list of the best neighborhoods in the city of Grand Rapids.

Alger Heights

Alger Heights is located in southeast Grand Rapids. If you decide to live in this area, you will get a tight community of friends that will last a lifetime! With only about 7,000 people living in this neighborhood, it’s pretty easy to get to know everyone quickly.

There are also great schools in the area, so this is a great spot if you have a family and need to be close to learning opportunities. Alger Heights is also a safe area for families to spend time as well.

It is one of the cheaper options in the area with the median rent being around $650 per month and the average house price around $103,000.

Because of the local businesses and cute cafes and restaurants, Alger Heights has a homey feel and the main street area that is always great to walk around in to find a place to eat or drink.

If you decide to live in this area, you have to check out these places for fun eating and drinking experiences:

Brass Ring Brewing to get some great Michigan brews
Atlantic Fish Market
Real Food Cafe

Not only are there great spots to eat, but you can also spend time in nature having a picnic or playing golf.

Ridgemoor

Ridgemoor is a top-rated neighborhood in Grand Rapids and is on the smaller side of the list of neighborhoods as well. There are only about 3,000 people who live in this area.

In this area, you will find a lot of retirees enjoying their days in the park or eating at cute coffee shop.

You also have a lot of areas at your fingertips if you decide to live in Ridgemoor. There is the Woodland Mall right in your neighborhood to get all of your shopping done! You can also easily walk to the grocery stores in the area if you want to go for a stroll instead of driving.

There are a lot of dog owners in this area, but all are responsible and pick up after them. If you have a furry friend, this is a great place to consider with your move to Grand Rapids.

Creston

Creston is one of the safest areas in Grand Rapids and is perfect if you are single or a young professional looking for a new place to live. The rent is relatively cheap at around $750 for monthly rent and $110,000 to purchase a home.

Because a lot of people who live here are single or young, there are a lot of different options to choose from for your living situation.

There are normal houses and apartment options, but also cottages and Craftsman-style bungalows. Whatever you feel fits your style, it’s probably an option to choose from!

Creston is in North Grand Rapids and is known for its beautiful murals. You will definitely be busy when you first move here trying to find your favorite one!

There are tons of places you’ll have to check out when you make the move to Creston, as well as playing a round of golf! You need to try out a local restaurant like Vitale’s and Choo Choo Grill. Don’t forget to check out the local brews at Graydon’s Crossing!

Eastown

Eastown is also a safe neighborhood, up there with Creston. However, it does tend to be a little more expensive than some of the other neighborhoods.

House prices’ median ranges around $150,000 and the monthly median rent for apartments is above $1,000.

The majority of people who live in this area are young professionals and even students because it is close to downtown and Aquinas College.

Because a lot of people who live in this area tend to be on the younger side, there are a lot of group gatherings and community events to bring people closer. There are also a lot of new, trendy things going on in the area that you’ll have to get your hands on!

You should:

Take an acting class at Circle Theatre
Take a cooking class at The Local Epicurean
Create your own candle at Wax Poetic Candle Bar
Get a drink at Harmony Brewing Company

As you can see from this list, there are a lot of hip things to do in this area. If you’re looking for a fun, trendy area that is close to downtown and full of young people, this is the neighborhood for you!

Westide Connection

Westside Connection is located ten minutes west of downtown Grand Rapids, hence the name “Westside.” This is a very safe area and is full of a range of people from young professionals to retirees.

There are a lot of great schools here that are always looking for new teachers, so if you are a teacher or have a kid, this is a great location for you.

Westside Connection is also a nature lover’s dream because there is a lot of green space in the area. There are dog parks, trails, and a nature center where you can bike or run around.

Along with the fun nature areas in Westside Connection, there are a lot of places to kick back and enjoy some food and drinks. If you move here, you’ll probably find yourself at the following places weekly:

Sandy’s Donuts to get your fix of a nice peanut butter donut or one of their other great flavors
Westside American Social Tavern to grab a cold, craft beer
Westsider Cafe to snack on some potato pancakes

You may even stumble upon a few other great places in the area, but you should definitely start with the three locations above to get your food and drink sampling of the town!

Eastgate

Eastgate is another great location to move to as a cute neighborhood outside of downtown Grand Rapids. Because it is only 12 minutes from the downtown area of the city of Grand Rapids, it is becoming one of the most popular neighborhoods in the area.

As of now, the rent is still lower than some other areas with a median rent price of $750. The home prices are a bit more expensive than some of the other areas coming in at $130,000. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can grab a cute apartment, a normal-looking house, a Cape-Cod style house, or a charming ranch home.

Eastgate is known for its good schools, shopping centers, and delicious restaurants.

You’ll have to explore them all on your own, but a few great options in Eastgate that you will need to try are:

Cafe de Miro to try out their delicious paninis or a refreshing acai bowl
Hall Street Bakery for a quaint sitdown lunch
Grand Lakes Chinese Restaurant for your eggroll fix
Andrea’s Pizza for some mouthwatering pizza or calzones

During the winter, you have to visit Mulick Park to go sledding at one of the best places in all of Grand Rapids.

Eastgate is full of activities for you and the kids during any season. This neighborhood will not disappoint you!

Ready to Make the Move to Grand Rapids?

Now that you’ve picked the perfect neighborhood to move to in Grand Rapids, it’s time for you to start packing up your stuff!

We want to help you move to Grand Rapids! You can contact us to get a quote about your move to your new home.

Once you get to your neighborhood, wherever you decide to go, it is definitely worth exploring downtown Grand Rapids and the other neighborhoods that are out there. You’ll be set up and enjoying everything Grand Rapids has to offer in no time!