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Garfield Park

Garfield Park

$268,690 Average Value
$186 Average Price per Sq Ft
26 Homes For Sale

Garfield Park has lower prices and space to get outdoors

Garfield Park might be one of the larger neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, but you can still find a tight-knit community here. The community is less than 5 miles south of downtown, so you're not far from city activity, but there’s more space to breathe over here. Green spaces, including the namesake Garfield Park, are scattered between historic homes and elementary schools. It’s a place where kids ride their bikes to friends’ houses, and the local neighborhood association sends out a regular newsletter. Plus, you’re right next to the cute town center in Alger Heights, so it’s easy to pick up groceries or hardware supplies locally. With home prices that stay below the city’s average, Garfield Park appeals to buyers who want a quieter kind of community.

Historic homes appeal to first-time buyers and established owners

Most homes in Garfield Park were built between the late 1800s and mid-1900s. “You’ve got Queen Anne Victorians, Tudor Revivals, Dutch Colonials, American Foursquares and some mid-century ranches are slotted in there as well,” says Andrew VanDeWalker, a broker with Coldwell Banker Schmidt and local resident. VanDeWalker said that a main reasons that he moved to Garfield Park was the solid construction and architectural diversity of the area's older homes.

Investment properties start in the mid-$100,000s, and freshly renovated homes can get up to the mid-$400,000s. “There’s a lot of diversity from block to block, none of the houses feel too alike,” VanDeWalker says. “A first-time homebuyer or a move-up buyer could both find places that they really like here.” The average price, at around $250,000, is on par with next-door Alger Heights, but significantly lower than the north and east sides of the city.

Garfield Park includes several homes from the Victorian era.
Garfield Park includes several homes from the Victorian era.
Tudor Revival houses are common in Garfield Park.
Tudor Revival houses are common in Garfield Park.
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Garfield Park has a popular disc golf course and open green space.
Garfield Park has a popular disc golf course and open green space.

Parks and green spaces encourage an active community

Most neighborhood streets are lined with sidewalks, and parks play a huge role in the community here. You can stay active at:

  • Salvation Army Kroc Center: Year round community center with fitness facilities, an indoor pool, climbing wall, gymnasium, classes and family programming
  • Plaster Creek Family Park: Spacious park along Plaster Creek known for its nature-focused walking and biking trails, as well as several sports fields
  • Garfield Park: Neighborhood centerpiece with a popular disc golf course, a splash pad, playgrounds and sports courts for tennis, basketball and futsal
Garfield Park is also a hub for community events, like Art in the Park, where kids can enjoy crafts and games. “The first thing that you think of when you hear Garfield Park is the park itself,” VanDeWalker says. “It’s one of the largest parks in Grand Rapids, with more than 30 acres…It’s definitely the heartbeat of the neighborhood.”

Local restaurants and shopping in Alger Heights

Alger Heights Shopping Center feels like a small town center with its independent grocery, hardware store, public library and plenty of places to eat. Plus, there’s a variety of locally owned restaurants over on Burton Street and Division Avenue. Here are some of the most popular restaurants in the neighborhood:

  • Real Food Cafe: Homestyle breakfast cafe with from-scratch food and a long wait on weekend mornings
  • Tacos El Cuñado: Regional chain in West Michigan known for tacos and other Mexican food staples
  • El Globo Restaurant: Favorite for birria tacos and traditional Jalisco-style dishes
  • The Old Goat: Elevated gastropub with craft drinks and occasional live jazz or piano

Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association hosts events to bring residents together.
Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association hosts events to bring residents together.

Tight-knit community and an active neighborhood association

The Garfield Park Neighborhood Association has a website and a newsletter to keep residents informed about what is happening in and around the community. They also plan neighborhood events, clean-ups and address safety concerns. In general, VanDeWalker says it’s a friendly area. “You’ll see people walking their dogs and riding their bikes around the neighborhood, and conversing and actually knowing each other,” VanDeWalker says. He says that one of his favorite aspects of living here, along with the parks, is “that tight-knit neighborhood feel…everyone in the community is working to make it a better place.”

Drive or take the bus to downtown in less than 15 minutes

Garfield Park is just less than 5 miles away from downtown Grand Rapids. If nearby U.S. Route 131 gets back up with traffic, there are several alternative routes into the city that take only a few minutes longer. “It’s a maximum of 15 minutes to get downtown,” says VanDeWalker, and he notes that taking the public bus is a popular option too. “Some folks will walk down to Division Avenue to take the bus into town, and that’s their main way of commuting.”

Neighborhood schools have bilingual learning support

The neighborhood is home to Burton Elementary School and Burton Middle School, which both offer bilingual learning options. Grand Rapids Public Schools offers a school choice program, so families can apply to any public school in the city. In Michigan, you can also apply out of your home district. Nearby highly rated school districts, like Kentwood, Grandville or East Grand Rapids, can be competitive to get into, typically using lottery-based admission.

Burton Elementary School and Burton Middle School share the same building.
Burton Elementary School and Burton Middle School share the same building.
Ottawa Hills High School is a public school in Grand Rapids.
Ottawa Hills High School is a public school in Grand Rapids.
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Catherine Lashley
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Schools

Source:
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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Gerald R Ford International

19 min drive

Bus

28Th Street Station (Nb)

Bus

28Th/Bimbo Bakeries (Eb)

Bus

28Th/Eastern - West (Wb)

Bus

28Th/Jefferson (Wb)

Bus

28Th/Madison (Wb)

Bus

28Th/Union (Wb)

Bus

28th & Bimbo Bakeries (Eb)

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Garfield Park US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
3,406
Number of Homes for Sale
26
Median Year Built
2024
Months of Supply
1.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,361
Significantly below the national average
1,934
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,920

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
8
Median Rent
$1,697
Median Single Family Home Rent
$2,550
Median 3 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$2,400
Median Condo Rent
$1,398
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$1,195

Demographics

Total Population
16,109
Median Age
32
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$64,850
Below the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$78,046

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
66.3%
Below the national average
89%
College Graduates
19.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
8.3%
% Population in Labor Force
69.8%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
60''

Area Factors

Moderately bikeable

Bikeability®

60 / 100

Moderately walkable

Walkability®

60 / 100

Some public transit

Transit®

40 / 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic

Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Nearby Neighborhoods

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Garfield Park