Located where the Grand River meets Lake Michigan, Grand Haven is a classic beach town with a bustling boardwalk, regular festivals and a big summer crowd. Though the city tends to empty out in the colder months, a permanent community stays to enjoy highly rated schools, year-round attractions and small-town charm. "There's a warmth to our community," says Sandi Gentry, a lifelong resident and a Re/Max Realtor with over 30 years of experience in West Michigan. "I hear people say all the time how nice, kind and outgoing everyone is here. It's the kind of place where people hold the door open and smile at each other. You can tell they love where they live."
Grand Haven was originally home to Potawatomi and Ottawa Native Americans, who benefited from the proximity of the Grand River. As European explorers settled and developed the land, the river stayed a central part of the community — used for transporting lumber and powering sawmills. Today, the city's waterside location mainly drives a strong tourism industry, though manufacturing and farming are still part of the local economy. Grand Haven has a relatively stable population, but the demand and prices for a home in this quaint community have been on the rise in recent years.
Enjoy highly rated schools, year-round attractions, and small-town charm in Grand Haven.
The Grand River leads into the vast waters of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven.
Grand Haven is known as "Coast Guard City USA."
The east side of Grand Haven has more affordable homes than the lakeside.
1/4
Walkable downtown with a popular farmers market
Downtown Grand Haven is the heart of the community, lined with colorful and historic storefronts. Gift shops, boutiques and ice cream vendors are hopping in the summer, and a wide selection of restaurants are open year-round. "We have our own farms in northwest Ottawa County, so you see a lot of farm-to-table cuisine," Gentry says. "And the farmers market is hugely popular." Plenty of bars and breweries stay open late, and parts of downtown and the waterfront are registered as a social district, meaning alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed outside. The social area is used for regular live music events and lively summer evenings. In the winter, downtown is equipped with a snowmelt system, which heats streets and sidewalks to keep them clear of snow.
Downtown Grand Haven is the heart of the community, with colorful and historic storefronts.
The Kirby House is an iconic restaurant & bar in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Find blueberry-themed gifts at Blueberry Haven in Grand Haven.
In Grand Haven's summer months, a docking area on the Grand River becomes a farmers market.
1/4
Skiing hills and sandy beaches
Grand Haven has over 20 parks, which range from neighborhood playgrounds to state campgrounds. Mulligan's Hollow is the largest park in the city, big enough for wintertime ski and snowboard slopes. The greater Grand Haven area also has more than 100 miles of bike paths and trails. One of the most popular is the 2-mile trail along the banks of the Grand River, which passes by fishing piers, downtown Grand Haven and out to the beaches of Lake Michigan.
The biggest outdoor attraction in Grand Haven is the water. Lake Michigan's ocean-like coast is steps away from some homes, and the beaches get busy in the summer with tourists. Grand Haven State Park is the city's most visited spot, home to an iconic red lighthouse and miles of sandy shoreline. From the lake, boats can head inland via the Grand River, which snakes around the city and is lined with marinas and fishing charters.
Chinook Pier is slated for redevelopment, with plans to offer indoor space and a mixed-use retail building. "The city is always looking for new projects and ways to develop. One of the biggest examples of that currently is the Chinook Pier project, which will involve reconfiguring the farmers market there to bring in additional folks," says Mark Allen, the president of the Chamber of Commerce for Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
Grand Haven State Park is home to an iconic red lighthouse and miles of sandy shoreline.
Mulligan's Hollow in Grand Haven has wintertime ski and snowboard slopes.
Visitors and residents of Grand Haven can enjoy a walk by the Grand River in every season.
Grand Haven's Chinook Pier is slated for redevelopment, with plans to build retail space.
1/4
Summer tourism in Coast Guard City USA
Grand Haven comes to life in the summer as tourists and summer homeowners flood in for the season. The farmers market starts back up, live music can be heard every Friday, and the iconic Grand Haven Musical Fountain has a free show every evening. The Musical Fountain's light and water shows are synched up to music, and when it was unveiled in 1962, it was the largest of its kind in the world. Some of the most popular summer festivities include the Fourth of July fireworks and the Heritage Festival's showcase of local artisans and entertainment.
But by far, the city's largest event is the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. What started as a picnic in 1924 now draws crowds of over 350,000 people, earning the city the title of Coast Guard City USA. The event includes a parade, live music, water ski shows and carnival rides, all to honor the members of the Coast Guard.
Though Grand Haven has a quieter pace of life in the off-season, the city still encourages locals to get together with regular events. Downtown hosts trick-or-treating, and the Jingle Bell parade is led by Mr. and Mrs. Claus to kick off the holiday season. Winterfest in January features long-standing traditions like the cardboard sled race. "Grand Haven is a great place to visit year-round," Allen says. "All the family-friendly events make it a great place to raise a family, too."
From affordable ranch styles to luxury lakeside estates
Beacon Boulevard acts as a dividing line in Grand Haven, with home prices tending to be more expensive on the lakeside half and more affordable on the inland half. The median home price in Grand Haven is $375,000, but there is a large range. Smaller ranch styles start at around $250,000, and luxury lakeside properties could cost over $1 million. There are several condos around the riverside, which can also have units upwards of $1 million. Properties here are often used as second summer homes or vacation rentals. "Real estate here is in high demand; I would say we have about one month of inventory at any given time," Gentry says, referring to how long it would take to sell all the available properties if nothing else came up for sale.
Classic ranch-style homes are common in Grand Haven.
Grand Haven is home to many modern-style houses near Lake Michigan.
There are several condo complexes near the Grand River in Grand Haven.
There are many different kinds of homes available in Grand Haven.
1/4
National Blue Ribbon elementary schools
The city is served by Grand Haven Area Public Schools, which gets an A-minus grade from Niche. Five of the district's six elementary schools have received recognition as National Blue Ribbon Schools. The elementary schools go up to fourth grade, and then kids move on to one comprehensive intermediate school for fifth and sixth. The district also has one middle school and one high school. Grand Haven High is known for its academics, with nine AP courses and a Science Olympiad team that regularly qualifies for nationals. It's also known for athletics, with facilities that include an indoor pool and indoor track.
Grand Haven High School is known for its academics, with nine AP courses.
Rosy Mound Elementary School is a National Blue Ribbon school in Grand Haven.
Lakeshore Middle School is the Grand Haven school district's only middle school.
White Pines Intermediate School teaches fifth and sixth graders in Grand Haven.
1/4
Local public transportation and trips to Grand Rapids
Grand Haven is designed to be a walkable tourist town with plenty of public transportation. In the summertime, The Lakeshore Trolley runs throughout most major Grand Haven destinations and up to Spring Lake and Ferrysburg. All year round, the Harbor Transit system offers door-to-door service to any location throughout the city. Residents can pre-book their rides in advance, so it functions like a taxi service.
Grand Rapids is 35 miles southeast, typically a 40-minute drive along Interstate 96. The larger city has a world-renowned healthcare hub and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which connects nonstop to 34 destinations nationwide.
Tourism and manufacturing are the main backbones of Grand Haven's economy. The city is home to the headquarters of global manufacturing companies like Shape Corporation, JOST International and GHSP. The local school district and healthcare providers also comprise a significant employment sector. On the city's outskirts, a thriving farming industry still exists in rural Ottawa County.
Important to know
Grand Haven has its own Department of Public Safety, which employs police officers who are cross-trained as firefighters and water rescue technicians. The department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and estimates it responds to 10,000 calls each year. According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer tool, Grand Haven's crime rates are significantly below both state and national averages.
The city has four distinct seasons, though spring and fall can be short, and winter can get frigid. According to U.S. Climate Data, temperatures drop below freezing from November to March, and the average annual snowfall is around 70 inches. Grand Haven has experienced minor flooding, particularly in areas around the Grand River and Lake Michigan, though most homes were unaffected.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
