Located just east of Lansing’s Old Town, Northtown is a longstanding community of homeowners and small businesses offering proximity to many of the city’s most popular spots, like Jackson Field, as well as East Lansing and Michigan State University. “I grew up in the community, and it’s coming back,” says Brian Ozbun, a Lansing Realtor with Bellabay Realty, LLC.
Some parts of Lansing, like Old Town, are within walking distance, and CATA buses line the major streets in Northtown, taking residents without cars the 2 miles downtown and 4 to East Lansing and Michigan State University. They’re 2 miles north of E.W. Sparrow Hospital. Locals heading overseas or across the country can head just 3 miles northwest to Capital Region International Airport.
Those driving through Northtown pass American Foursquare homes with large porches, signature gambler roofs of Dutch Colonials and colorful bungalows. Some of the homes were recently renovated, while others need a few repairs. Because of this, prices can range from less than $100,000 to around $300,000. Many of the streets are named after states, from New York Avenue to Indiana Avenue, so the area is also referred to as The State Streets.
Northtown is also popular for families looking for creative alternatives for student housing. “It’s so close to Michigan State University and student housing can be expensive,” Ozbun says, “so some parents will buy a home here in Northtown, outside of the college area, while their children are at school and have them stay in the house with their college student friends.”
Northtown residents are easily drawn into the gravity of energetic Old Town, where modern murals adorn historic Classical Revival buildings featuring the city’s latest eateries and dive bars. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad choice among the local establishments, but a crowd favorite is Meat BBQ, slow-smoking protein-heavy entrees and side dishes to deliver what they proudly refer to as “carnivore cuisine.” Neighbors can kick back at Zoobie’s Old Town Tavern, which serves up cocktail or craft beer and pub fare with unusual twists. For groceries, residents head east to the Meijer across U.S. 127, or pick up items from the reliable One Stop Food Mart on Cesar E. Chavez Ave.
Residents explore winding, paved pathways through Bancroft Park. These trails navigate the park’s rolling hills in the otherwise flat Lansing area, making them perfect for joggers and cyclists looking for some elevation change. That doesn’t mean, however, that dog walkers and nature lovers can’t enjoy a leisurely stroll in the woodlands and wetlands right in their backyard. Porter Park is another community park that welcomes residents looking for wide open spaces and playground play.
Before heading off to Michigan State University or Lansing Community College, students in Northtown can enroll in Gier Park Elementary School. Niche rates this school a C-plus; it offers low student-teacher ratios and one-on-one tutoring. They move on to Sheridan Road STEM Magnet School, which earns a C. At Eastern High School, students can enroll in Project Lead the Way, a STEM-based program that specifically focuses on biotechnological topics, from environmental protection to immune systems. The school earns a B-minus from Niche.
Though Northtown’s neighborhood association is no longer active, the area is also home to Cristo Rey Community Center, which runs a community kitchen and food pantry and has been the site for marches and other events for Northtown residents.
Christopher Silker
Keller Williams Realty Lansing
(517) 816-9368
284 Total Sales
4 in Northtown
$55K - $178K Price Range
Travis Conti
RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals
(517) 777-8068
310 Total Sales
3 in Northtown
$80K - $118K Price Range
Mary Miller
RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals
(517) 742-2943
154 Total Sales
4 in Northtown
$60K - $105K Price Range
Stacee Robison
Keller Williams Realty Lansing
(517) 997-0597
223 Total Sales
1 in Northtown
$70,000 Price
Patti Warnke
Patti Warnke Real Estate Group
(810) 484-0461
231 Total Sales
1 in Northtown
$143,000 Price
Ben Magsig
EXP Realty - Haslett
(517) 816-9759
160 Total Sales
1 in Northtown
$180,000 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Northtown | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Northtown, Lansing sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Northtown, Lansing over the last 12 months is $110,000, up 36% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$1,350 - $4,250 per month
$915 - $1,150 per month
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Shopping centers, schools and homes are in this Lansing neighborhood near downtown
Two CATA routes travel along this Lansing neighborhood
Vintage homes in the heart of Lansing's entertainment and nightlife scene.
Historic charm and riverside homes just north of Old Town Lansing
