The east-side area around the Gardens
Ada (49301) is the riverfront side — larger, often wooded lots, a walkable village core, and a 10-mile, 12-to-15-minute downtown commute. Cascade (49546) sits closer to the airport and the M-6 beltway. Both feed Forest Hills Public Schools, and both wrap around the Thornapple River and the trail network that connects out toward the Gardens. It's the east-side combination of space, schools, and a short commute that buyers are really after here.
Because these are Forest Hills addresses, confirm the assigned buildings for any specific parcel — the district lines don't follow ZIP boundaries.
What homes near the Gardens cost
The range is wide. A condo or attached home runs about $300,000 to $475,000, an established 1980s-2000s single-family home $450,000 to $625,000, and a move-up 4-bed (2,600 to 3,800 square feet) $625,000 to $900,000. New construction and custom builds push $850,000 to $1.5 million, and Thornapple riverfront frontage runs $1.2 to $2 million. On the Cascade side, the bands run similar, with custom riverfront and estate parcels reaching $2.75 million.
For the deeper read, the Ada neighborhood guide and the Forest Hills Schools area page both cover this territory.
More on the Ada area
Ada is the riverfront township east of Grand Rapids where larger lots, Forest Hills schools, and a 12-to-15-minute downtown commute all land in one place. It runs at a premium to the rest of Kent County, and I'd rather you understand the trade than be surprised by it.
Read the full Ada neighborhood guide →