Muskegon Heights has community support and a growing business district
Muskegon Heights, just south of Muskegon proper, is only a few miles from the shore of Lake Michigan. The area used to be a major manufacturing hub, but many factories moved out in the 1960s. Since then, Muskegon Heights has struggled with job opportunities and poor funding for public infrastructure. Still, a growing business district and network of community organizations are trying to fill in those gaps as the city grapples with high crime and fewer city resources compared to next-door Muskegon. Plus, Muskegon County is still home to several major manufacturing businesses, and Muskegon Heights is one of the most affordable areas in the region. “There’s often a negative stigma about this area,” says Raven Jackson, a Realtor with Five Star Real Estate and an area resident. “But this is a community that sticks with each other and looks out for each other.”
A dedicated network of local organizations
Community support in Muskegon Heights comes from local restaurants, churches and volunteer organizations. Mission For Area People runs a regular food and clothing pantry while offering support for childcare and health care needs. Thredz plans block parties and advocates for King Village, a development proposal that includes affordable housing at the site of the former King Elementary School. A community garden gives away fresh produce, and kids can rent bikes at the local library.
Some of the Muskegon area’s lowest home prices
Homes in Muskegon Heights are typically from 1900 to 1950, originally built to accommodate a growing manufacturing workforce. Streets are lined with tightly spaced rows of bungalows, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes, usually less than 1,500 square feet. Most of the gridded streets have sidewalks shaded by mature trees, and some backyards contain detached garages. The median home price of $85,000 is significantly lower than the median in Muskegon and in Michigan as a whole. “The houses are reasonably priced,” Jackson says, “and we have a lot of programs that we offer for first-time homebuyers to minimize the cost of buying a home.”
Black-owned businesses and a growing retail corridor
Muskegon Heights has a high concentration of locally owned businesses, many of which are invested in the community. “Us Café is a really homey restaurant that donates a lot to the community. They have a pantry outside where people can grab fruits and vegetables and other foods whenever they need,” Jackson says. “We have quite a few Black-owned restaurants. Plus there’s a Black-owned real estate office and a Black-owned doctor’s office.”
The area lacks a large grocery store, so locals often head west of Seaway Drive for errand runs. Broadway Avenue — Muskegon Heights’ main corridor for retail and foot traffic — is nearly finished with renovations to make it more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly. The end goal is to attract new businesses to fill the many empty storefronts, energizing a downtown for Muskegon Heights. “Broadway is a priority right now, but the city is working on repaving all of the streets, a few at a time,” Jackson says. “We have had horrible street quality in the past.”
Parks are community hotspots year-round
Mona Lake Park has a fishing pier and Johnny Harris Memorial Park is a popular sledding spot for kids. In early 2025, a few local businesses came together to build a sled library at Harris Memorial Park, so that there are always sleds available for kids. With an average annual snowfall of nearly 8 feet, the park’s slopes are often busy. In the summer, when school's out, several of the city parks host Meet Up and Eat Up, a statewide program that provides free daily breakfasts and lunches to children in need.
Charter schools have free internet support and a gardening program
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System receives an overall D-minus grade from Niche. The school system is a public charter district, meaning it is independently run. The district offers to cover the internet costs for families that need support, ensuring that all sixth-to-12th-grade students have a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The local organization Coalition for Community Development started a gardening program at the elementary schools, which teaches kids about the power of urban gardening and organizes an annual field trip to nearby blueberry farms.
Direct access to Interstate 96
Muskegon Heights is centrally located to everything the county has to offer. Muskegon County Airport, which connects all flights through Chicago, is 5 miles south. The shores of Lake Michigan are 4 miles away, and downtown Muskegon is a 2-mile trip. The Muskegon Area Transit System has several stops throughout the city. Locals also have direct access to Interstate 96, which runs 35 miles out to Grand Rapids.
High crime rates show a trend of decline
According to Michigan State Police, Muskegon Heights’ crime rates are twice as high as the state average and slightly higher than the nearby city of Muskegon. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that the Muskegon area has the state’s second highest rates for overdoses and violent deaths in 2024, second only to Detroit. However, crime rates in Muskegon Heights have been on a downward trend, decreasing almost by half since 2018.
Crime reduction efforts from the city and local police include subsidized doorbell cameras and traffic-light security cameras. Several local organizations are working to reduce gun violence in the community through after-school programs and nonviolent intervention programs.
The Andrea Crossman Group specializes in listing and selling luxury, high-end homes, and waterfront properties. We have been servicing the Greater Grand Rapids area to the Lakeshore for over 25 years. If you are looking for knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive real estate experts -- we are your team. Give us a call today at 616-312-2237.
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.
