$351,738Average Value$207Average Price per Sq Ft43Homes For Sale
Grand Rapids’ amenities, Ottawa County’s property taxes
Originally a lumber settlement on the banks of the Grand River, Jenison is a census-designated place named after a prominent 19th-century sawmill family. Over the last century, midcentury homes and growing subdivisions have since replaced the area’s native trees, historic mills and gravel pits. Today, Jenison’s lakes, golf courses and community parks attract homebuyers looking for comfortable bedroom communities within 10 miles of Grand Rapids.
“Jenison is a great community to live in with low property taxes,” says Amy Jo Weller, a longtime local and associate broker with Keller Williams Realty Rivertown. Located at the border of Ottawa and Kent Counties, Jenison residents have access to the grandeur of Grand Rapids without the added expenses. “Grand Rapids is Beer City USA. They have the restaurants and the art galleries, which is great. But in Jenison, you’re close to all those things with the benefit of affordability and a great community.”
Jenison has several areas of newer traditional style homes with larger lots.
Jenison has several small lakes and large ponds perfect for fishing in the summer.
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Growing subdivisions around Jenison’s lakes & golf courses
Jenison’s residential streets typically branch off central roads like Cottonwood Drive and Baldwin Street. The city offers various styles, price ranges and ages, from modern waterfront homes surrounding Cedar Lake East to the midcentury ranch-style homes and bilevels of Rosewood. Many subdivisions, like Georgetown Shores and the Gleneagle Golf Club, orient around community recreation. Meanwhile, brand-new townhome developments, like Lowing Woods, occupy subdivisions farther north. Altogether, the median price sits around $345,000 – higher than nearby Grand Rapids. “The market is still increasing, which is good,” Weller says. “But you’ll rarely see anything under $300,000.”
Jenison has a growing number of newer traditional style homes surrounding large ponds.
Long rows of brick ranch homes is a common sight on the quiet streets of Jenison.
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Jenison High’s Wildcats are state champions
With an A on Niche, the Jenison Public School system dates back over 50 years. “Every one of my grandkids attends the school district,” Weller says, herself a graduate of Jenison High School. “They have great programs, including the music program, which brings a lot of people to the area.” Jenison Senior High School’s marching band has won the state championships 13 times in the last 25 years, performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023. Located on campus, the Jenison Center for the Arts offers programming for students throughout the district. “Bar none, the schools are far and above,” she says.
Jenison Junior High has an overall rating of A on Niche.com.
Pinewood Elementary School has an overall rating of A on Niche.com.
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Jenison is 25 miles from Lake Michigan’s beaches
Jenison residents make the most of Michigan’s warm, humid summers with waterfront recreation throughout the region. “We have a great location between Lake Michigan and Grand Rapids,” Weller says, noting the 25-mile drive west to the great lake’s beaches. Hiking and biking trails outline the Grand River as it flows east through Jenison and onward to Grand Rapids. “Millenium Park is a nice spot along the river that draws crowds in the summer,” she continues. “Mostly, people like the big lake there for the paddle boarding and trails.” Jenison’s neighborhood parks and facilities offer year-round recreation back home – even in the icy winter months. “When I was a kid, Hager Park was the place to go,” Weller adds. “And we used to call Rosewood Park ‘Charlie’s Dump’ because it actually was a gravel pit. But now it’s a sled hill – and a popular one, at that.”
Parks and sidewalks in Jenison are always active with joggers, bicyclists and dog walkers.
Dale E. Wagner Park in Jenison, MI.
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Heading into Grandville for shops & eats on Interstate 196
Jenison doesn’t offer a downtown area, but Weller shares that many residents head north into Grand Rapids for locally-owned restaurants and small businesses. “We have the Win Tavern 33, which is a cute little bar, and we’ve got Mexican, stir fry, pizza, ice cream and fast food. But if you’re looking for real dining, you’ll go to Grandville or Grand Rapids.” Beyond the Meijer on Baldwin Street, locals often head 2 miles south into Grandville for standard amenities. There, chain grocers and retailers like Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and Costco line Interstate 196. Those heading into Grand Rapids take the interstate 8 miles north instead. Local travelers often make the commute to fly commercially from Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Sprinkles Donut shop is a Jenison staple for a sweet treat and a hot coffee.
Maggie's Be Cafe is a great spot in Jenison for a morning coffee with friendly staff.
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From sawmills & gravel pits to Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile
Jenison’s historic gravel pits sit just north of its residential streets, where companies like Huizenga have mined gravel for nearly a century. “Jenison is built along this big gravel pit. They mined it for years and years, but now developers are building nice neighborhoods around the inland lakes they create.” While Huizenga continues to mine, the Ottawa County parks system has since converted the Jenison Gravel Pit into a sprawling community park. “I think the big draw now is the medical field,” Weller continues, referring to the Jenison Health Center and Grand Rapids Medical Mile. “The hospitals are bringing in a lot of people, so those are the kinds of jobs that are coming into this area,” she concludes.
The median household income of Jenison, as of 2022, is just over 61,000.
Jenison has several large active gravel pits on the edges of the Grand River.
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Crime rates are declining in Ottawa County
As a census-designated place, Jenison does not provide its own police department. According to FBI crime data and information sourced from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the region’s property crime rate has steadily decreased since 2016. Violent crime rates have similarly declined since 2021, on par with nearby Grand Rapids.
Written By
Dana Chesser
Photography Contributed By
Tyler Bolduc
Video By
Maurice Boone
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Pamela Derks,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Jenison, MI sell after 17 days on the market compared to the national average of 57 days. The median sale price for homes in Jenison, MI over the last 12 months is $375,000, up 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to the Rosewood neighborhood. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home has undergone some fantastic renovations. Offering 1,187 square feet of finished living space, this home features a desirable layout with generously sized bedrooms and baths. Another great bonus is the finished basement level currently used as a playroom but also great for an office, home theater, or gym. Step out back to
Welcome to luxury living in the sought-after Lowing Woods community, where modern design, exceptional craftsmanship, and peaceful natural surroundings come together in this newly completed residence finished in August 2025. Offering over 4,200 square feet of finished living space, this stunning home delivers the perfect balance of elegance, comfort, and functionality.Filled with natural light
Welcome to the Bristol home plan, part of our Legacy Series! The Bristol offers a spacious two-story design with flexible living spaces and an open-concept main floor. Tour the Bristol with us! Step in from the inviting front porch and find a bright entryway with a flex room to your left. Continue through the hall, past a coat closet, and arrive in the heart of the home. The main level features a
Welcome to 9067 Hollace Drive, a beautifully crafted Hadley home plan located in the sought after Lowing Woods community. This brand new Eastbrook Home offers 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and 3,329 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space. Built with Eastbrook’s energy efficiency standards and backed by a full one year warranty, this home provides long lasting value, comfort, and peace of
Discover this charming 5-bedroom, 2-bath ranch in the highly sought-after Jenison School District! The main floor features an open-concept living space with three spacious bedrooms, an updated full bath, and two separate living areas, offering plenty of room to relax or entertain.The finished lower level includes two additional egress bedrooms, an updated full bathroom, a comfortable living
Welcome to the Brinley home plan, the newest addition to our Hometown Series! The Brinley offers a streamlined floor plan with main floor living for those who prefer zero steps in their home. Tour the Brinley with us! Walk into your home from the quaint front porch, and find a spacious entryway with a powder room to your right and a coat closet to your left. On your right, you will find the
Buildable Home Plan – Photos Are Representational The Balsam, named after the most fragrant fir tree, evokes freshness and a feeling of open spaces. The Balsam is our latest ranch plan, featuring 1773 of flexible living space. Enter the Balsam home through your front porch or through the two-car garage, immediately finding the mudroom to your left. The conveniently located mudroom includes a coat
Welcome to this well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in the heart of Jenison! Offering a functional layout with an attached two-stall garage, this home also features a finished lower level with the potential to create a fourth bedroom, home office, or additional living space. Fresh interior paint upstairs and downstairs adds to its move-in-ready appeal. Conveniently located near schools,
Buildable Home Plan - Photos are Representational Stately and contemporary, the Hadley home plan is a two-story design offering 2328 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, and two and a half baths. Enter your Hadley home plan and see a conveniently located flex room, perfect for an at-home office, playroom, or hobby room. Continue down the hall into your two-story great room, dining room and
Welcome to this beautifully updated 4 bedroom ranch home in Jenison with an inground pool that you can enjoy as Summer is right around the corner! Many updates have been made including a newer roof and siding, windows, a covered front porch with composite decking, remodeled bathrooms, new lighting fixtures and a finished lower level that includes a 4th bedroom, another full bathroom, and a large
Hard to find a duplex unit with an outside unit and full basement priced at only $159,900. Condominium needs updating and is reflexed in price, Walking distance to stores, banks and restaurant. 55+ age community. Community workshop, garden area and shuffleboard. Show and sell!
Buildable Home Plan – Photos are Representational The Maxwell home plan is a contemporary ranch style home. Walk into your new Maxwell home from the front porch to the main entryway. The dining area is positioned just off the front hall and can be transformed into an office with stylish French doors. The dining room and entryway lead into the family room, which can be further enhanced with one of
Welcome to 2481 Bauer Road in Jenison! Situated on a peaceful, partially wooded lot just under half an acre, this 4-bedroom, 2-bath home offers the perfect blend of space, convenience, and potential. Built in 2009, the home features over 1,100 square feet on the main level, a partially finished full basement, and a 2-car attached garage. Enjoy summer days in the 18-foot above-ground pool with a
Cottonwood Forest Apartments is just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, Allendale, and Holland! Each of our two-bedroom homes offer a spacious open-concept layout with various styles and price ranges to fit all your needs. Enjoy walk-in closets, community laundry as well as in-unit laundry options, brand-new kitchen appliances, an on-site dog park, a community nature trail, package lockers &
Gorgeous 3 and 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhomes available for rent in Jenison close to highway access and more. Equipped with stainless steel kitchen appliances (stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave), and full sized laundry! This property features attached garages, extra off-street parking, covered entry, and a back patio with privacy fence. Each room has large windows letting in natural
Executive home available for rent. Also for sale for $700,000. 5 bedroom 3.5 bath waterfront in Jenison Schools. Available furnished or unfurnished for you to move in. 10 month or 22 month lease. All utilities included with $5500 per month lease.
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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.
