Algoma Township offers a country feel near Grand Rapids and Rockford
About 15 miles from downtown Grand Rapids and right next to the small town of Rockford, Algoma Township sits out in the countryside of Kent County. “If you enjoy being outside in the woods in a rural setting, Algoma is the place to be,” says Henry Steffes, principal broker of Matic Real Estate, who has been selling homes in the region since 2015. “It’s close to Grand Rapids for work, but has much more of a laid-back country setting.” The open landscape allows for plenty of recreation throughout the year, and even though woods and farmland are a common sight, pockets of housing developments and businesses add a touch of suburban living.
Homes on wooded lots, surrounded by farms and in housing developments
The median home sale price in Algoma Township is around $490,000, compared to $300,000 in Grand Rapids and $440,000 in the suburban city of Rockford. Single-family homes are most common throughout the community and are typically tucked away in the woods with lots of privacy. Others have more open space, some surrounded by farmland or sitting in a suburban development. Homes date from the late 1800s through today, including century-old farmhouses and bungalows, midcentury ranch-style houses and New Traditional homes from the 2020s. Townhouse-style condos and manufactured homes are also available.
White Pine Trail and a mix of indoor and outdoor sports facilities
Outdoor activities are available all year long. “They’re very outdoorsy here,” Steffes says. “They like to hunt and fish. Snowmobiling and ATVing are also really big.” The 90-mile White Pine Trail is open to hikers and snowmobilers, running through dense forests and farmland in the township and other parts of Michigan, including Grand Rapids. Trestle Park, a popular stop along the rail-trail, features an old stone trestle bridge once used by the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Algoma Sports Park has a playground, along with baseball, softball and soccer fields used by the township’s youth leagues. Cedar Rock Sportsplex offers indoor sports leagues, including ice hockey, curling and soccer.
Local restaurants and award-winning wine on 14 Mile Road
Many of the township’s restaurants are along 14 Mile Road. Evergreen Inn Restaurant offers a homestyle breakfast and lunch menu. Momma’s Boy serves as a local pizza and sub shop. St. Julian Winery is the oldest winery in Michigan with six tasting rooms across the state, including one in Algoma Township. The winery prides itself as the most awarded winery in the state, and added to its collection in 2025, winning six gold medals in the Michigan Governor’s Cup Awards. Wine tastings can be paired with artisan pizza from Flo’s Wood Fired Pizzeria, which partners with the winery. For groceries and other everyday essentials, there’s a Meijer and Aldi on the north side of the township and another Meijer on the south side.
Three highly rated school districts serve the community
Algoma Township is split between three school districts: Rockford Public Schools, Sparta Area Schools and Cedar Springs Public School. Rockford receives an A-minus grade from Niche, which ranks it the 2nd-best school district in Michigan for athletes. The Rockford High Rams have won more than 50 state championships in 16 sports since 2000. Sparta Area Schools is graded a B-plus and Cedar Springs Public Schools receives a B.
Seasonal and holiday celebrations in Rockford
It’s common for locals to participate in Rockford’s annual events. Start of the Summer Celebration brings the community together to kick off the season. It features parades and carnival rides and ends with a fireworks show. Locals also celebrate fall during Harvest Fest and start the holiday season with the annual Santa Parade and Holiday Lighting Ceremony, which has the whole town lit up in Christmas lights.
A 20-minute drive to Grand Rapids
U.S. 131 and Michigan Highway 57 (M-57) intersect in Algoma Township and are the two main thoroughfares. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Grand Rapids, home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Lake Michigan beaches are about an hour away.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
