$296,878Average Value$184Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
A small town in the city
On the south side of the train tracks, as city begins to turn into suburbia, the Alger Heights neighborhood has an unexpectedly small-town feel. Streets are walkable, homes come with backyards, and a modest commercial hub has one of the most diverse selections of shops in Grand Rapids. "It's a city all on its own," says Brenda Pratt, Realtor at Keller Williams, who has sold several homes in the neighborhood. "A perfect mini urban center and millennial haven." Homes are small, so families looking to spread out might choose elsewhere to settle down. But Alger Heights holds on to relatively reasonable prices even in Grand Rapids' skyrocketing market, and those who move here tend to stay. "It's a Mayberry kind of neighborhood," says Jay Brooks, the president of the Alger Heights Business Association — referring to the friendly town from The Andy Griffith Show. "There's not much changeover and a lot of owner-occupied houses. People tend to have a lot of pride in where they live."
Alger Heights homes are conveniently located near shopping and dining options.
Alger Heights is a peaceful, tree-lined neighborhood with a strong sense of community.
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Alger Heights' unique businesses unite the community
Even though the commercial corridor at Alger Street and Eastern Avenue is less than a block long, it's the heart of Alger Heights. The neighborhood grocery store, Ken's Fruit Market, has tight isles and only three cashiers. But the produce is fresh, the sauces and spreads are locally sourced, and the cardboard boxes of serve-yourself candy are beloved by local kids. Real Food Café has a vintage diner feel, with red vinyl booths and pictures of the owner's family on the walls. The Old Goat's upscale sandwiches and burgers are often accompanied by a live piano player during dinnertimes. And every Wednesday, the owners of Brass Ring Brewing invite Alger Heights residents to snag a seat at the community table for their well-attended Neighbors Night.Among other locally owned businesses, there's a barber shop, a hardware store, a coffee shop and a dance studio. "We have one of the most diverse shopping centers in the city — and the people here really care about shopping local," says Ken Bryan, the owner of Making Thyme Kitchen. Making Thyme prepares ready-to-eat meals to heat up at home and bakes their cookies fresh every morning. For Bryan, owning a business in Alger Heights has made him feel like part of the community. "There's a closeness to the businesses here — I get referrals from across the street all the time. It's like that in the neighborhood, too. The people who were born and raised here, their kids choose to live here too, or regularly come to visit. I feel like that tells you something about a place," Bryan says.
Tardy’s Collectors Corner is a go-to spot for comic book fans in Alger Heights.
The Last Chance Tavern is a popular after-work hangout for Alger Heights residents.
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Pop-up markets, Halloween 5k and other Alger Heights celebrations
One of the most popular community events is the Saturday pop-up markets, which showcase local businesses and artisan vendors from across the city. Barbara and Jay Brooks, who own the vintage store Reimagined Treasures, started the pop-up market "to give back to the community," Jay Brooks explains. Come December, the market takes on a holiday twist, with visits from Santa and an outdoor tree lighting ceremony. Another one of Alger Heights' beloved holiday traditions, the Halloween 5K, is returning in 2024 after a break during the COVID pandemic. "Brass Ring Brewing wanted to continue the long tradition of the Halloween 5k. So, they sent an all-call out to the neighborhood and are bringing it back," says Teresa Kinnear, the Community Coordinator for the Alger Garfield Neighbors Collaborative. With the support of local churches and businesses, the collaborative offers welcome packets to new residents and provides grants for neighbors looking to start their own block parties.As of 2024, the Alger Heights business corridor is designated as a social district — which means alcoholic beverages can be enjoyed outside as patrons mill around the shopping center. "It's been approved, and we are going to start using it in the fall for our Halloween 5k," says Brooks.
Neighborhood parks and "crafternoons" at the local library
Local green spaces include Cheeseboro Park's small playground and Alger Park, which has soccer fields, tennis courts, and a summertime splash pad. The neighborhood also borders MacKay-Jaycees Park, which has lighted soccer fields, tennis courts, and a volleyball sand pit. The park's baseball fields are a popular spot for youth games, complete with a concession stand.Alger Heights is also home to the Seymour Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library, which acts as a community hub for the neighborhood. "We see families come in to play board games all the time," says Katie Zychowski, the library director of marketing and communications. "And our monthly crafternoons, where we provide free cookies and craft supplies, have been wildly popular."
MacKay Jaycees Park in Grand Rapids is a recreational hub near Alger Heights.
Cheseboro Park is a beloved pocket park in the Alger Heights neighborhood.
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Bungalows, cottages and ranch styles at affordable prices
The homes in Alger Heights were built from the 1920s to the 1950s and come in a charming array of bungalows, cottages and ranch styles. Typical of that time, many properties have detached back garages. "The homes might look similar at first, but they all have their own character," says local resident Sara Jeffries. "My favorite part of living here is walking through the neighborhood — it's magical." One potential downside to Alger Height is the size of the homes, which hardly ever get over 2,000 square feet. However, because of the small floor plans, prices here are still some of the more affordable in the city. Some homes start as low as $150,000, but most range between $200,000 and $400,000. "The prices are great – it's a jumping-off point for first-time buyers who want the walkable convenience of East Grand Rapids without its higher price tag," Pratt says. The market moves quickly in Grand Rapids, but especially in Alger Heights, where homes tend to sell in less than a week. New condominium units are also coming to the neighborhood, expected to be completed in early 2026.
Many Alger Heights bungalows feature inviting front porches and vintage charm.
Most Alger Heights homes are modest in size, with equally compact lots.
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Community engagement at the local middle school
Located at the center of the neighborhood, Alger Middle School benefits from the support of an engaged community. In the past, Alger Heights residents have participated in snack drives and book-buying fundraisers for the middle school. "One neighbor organized a group of math and reading tutors at Alger Middle," Kinnear says. "And in less than one marking period, the English teacher reported that test scores had gone up across the board, simply because a few people read with these students for 30 minutes each morning." In addition to resident support, the nearby Salvation Army Kroc Center limits its public pool hours to offer free lessons for Grand Rapids Public School kids.Other nearby public schools include Brookside Elementary and Ottawa Hills High School. Brookside Elementary and Alger Middle get C-minus rankings from Niche, and Ottawa Hills gets a C. Alger Heights is also about a mile away from Grand Rapids Christian High School, which receives an A-plus rating on Niche and is ranked as the second-best private high school in the Grand Rapids area.
Brookside Elementary, near Alger Heights, holds a B rating on Niche.
Ottawa Hills High School, near Alger Heights, has a C rating on Niche.
Alger Middle School, located in Alger Heights, holds a C- rating on Niche.
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Bike lanes and bus lines connecting into downtown
Alger Heights is about 4 miles from downtown Grand Rapids, usually a 10-minute drive, though it can be more like 20 in rush-hour traffic. The Rapids public buses have stops along Eastern Avenue that connect directly to downtown, and several routes leading into the city have designated bike lanes. Compared to other neighborhoods, Alger Heights is a bit farther from major highways. Still, the neighborhood does border 28th Street — a bustling four-lane road that heads over to the Woodland Mall, several large grocery stores, and chain restaurants in about 3 miles. Residents also have pretty direct access to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which is 7 miles away.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Alger Heights
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Alger Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Alger Heights, Grand Rapids sell after 16 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Alger Heights, Grand Rapids over the last 12 months is $273,000, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
