Looking to retire and downsize in Grand Rapids? Well, you’re in luck. This happens to be a great place to do both. When considering a residential move from a large home to a condo, townhouse, smaller home, or assisted living community, you will be happy to know there are many active adult and 55+ communities in or around Grand Rapids, the second largest city in the state and largest in West Michigan.

Home to 200,000, Grand Rapids has median home prices that are well below the national median, and were at $206,500 during the fourth quarter of 2019, says TopRetirements.com.

U.S. News & World Report put Grand Rapids in the top 10 best places to retire in 2019, crediting the city’s art and craft beer scenes, booming healthcare industry, affordable housing and of course that “Midwest friendliness.” Here are some of the main reasons why it’s a good idea to retire in Grand Rapids.

Low Cost of Living

The Grand Rapids area has a low cost of living, as compared with the national average. The median cost of homes here is $145,000. Compared with other large metro areas, Grand Rapids also has affordable groceries, utilities, and dining and entertainment options.

Hub for Culture and Art

With dozens of fun festivals each year touching on anything from food to art to music, you’ll never be at a loss for what to do here. One such example is ArtPrize, a multi-week art fair spanning many venues throughout the city. You also won’t want to miss festivals including the Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival, African American Arts and Music Festival and Grand Rapids Polish Festival.

Also, don’t miss a visit to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, which is where you’ll find Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory and sculpture collection. Hit up the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Outdoor Recreation

West Michigan has a lot of scenic beaches, many nature preserves, and rolling dunes and forests. Check out Blandford Nature Center, Ecosystem Preserve, and Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve. Plus, there are plenty of places all over the city where you can bike, walk and hike. And of course, there are many golf courses and fishing spots.

Low-Maintenance Communities

Just outside of Grand Rapids, there are a couple of affordable, low-maintenance housing options perfect for those who are looking to downsize.

Avalon Pointe has nearly 200 single-family and attached homes, with many amenities to take advantage of, including a clubhouse for indoor parties, swimming pool and patio area.
The Villas of Ada has nearly 130 attached homes for resale only. Homes range from 1,800 to 1,900 square feet with two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two-car garages. There’s an exercise room and a game room to socialize in.

As you can see, there are many reasons to move to this beautiful city!