Grand Rapids Area 55+ Retirement Communities

There are many benefits for active adults who retire in the Grand Rapids area. Retirees on a budget will appreciate the low home prices and overall lower cost of living. There are a variety of entertainment options in the area so whether you prefer a quiet evening at a theatrical production, exploring museums, or downhill skiing you will find it in the greater Grand Rapids area.

Grand Rapids Area Cost of Living

The cost of living for the Grand Rapids area is about 15 percent lower than the national average. Housing is significantly less expensive and healthcare is somewhat cheaper. Groceries, utilities and transportation costs are about the same as the rest of the country. Home prices vary by individual city with Grand Rapids being the most expensive at $247,900 and Battle Creek the least expensive at $152,200. 

Michigan has a flat 4.25 percent income tax which includes most retirement income although Social Security and military retirement benefits are exempt. Michigan has above average property taxes, no estate or inheritance tax, and below average sales tax. There are some tax breaks for seniors but they are income based.

Grand Rapids Area Climate and Geography

The Grand Rapids area is classified as having a humid continental climate which produces hot humid summers and cold snowy winters. Due to the effect of nearby Lake Michigan Grand Rapids has some of the highest average snowfall of any major city in the country.  Humidity in the summer is high, averaging 80 percent so even though the average summer temperature is in the low 80s it feels much hotter.

Grand Rapids lies about 25 miles east of Lake Michigan on the shores of the Grand River. The terrain consists of steep hills near the river and rolling farmland and forests farther away from the river and city. Other large cities in the area include Kalamazoo, which lies 40 miles directly south of Grand Rapids on the southwest bank of the Kalamazoo River and Battle Creek which is about 50 miles southeast at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. 

Recreation, Culture, and Entertainment Near Grand Rapids Area

Active adults can enjoy living in a climate with distinct seasons where you can enjoy golfing, boating on Lake Michigan or hiking in the summer and ice fishing, snowmobiling and skiing in the winter. 

Golf Near Grand Rapids Area

• Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek
• Gull Lake View Golf in Augusta
• Indian Run Golf Club in Scotts
• Milham Park Golf Club in Kalamazoo
• Quail Ridge Golf Club in Ada
• Western Greens Golf Course in Marne

Visual and Performing Arts Near Grand Rapids Area

• Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Art Museum
• Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
• Grand Rapids Symphony
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
• Kalamazoo State Theatre

Museums and Historical Sites Near Grand Rapids Area

• Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Kalamazoo
• Battle Creek Regional History Museum
• Grand Rapids Public Museum
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum
• The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids
• Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids

Outdoor Recreation Near Grand Rapids Area

• Buchanan Beach on Lake Michigan
• Cannonsburg Ski Area in Belmont
• Grand Haven State Park in Grand Haven
• Kal-Haven Trail Sesquicentennial State Park in Kalamazoo
• Kleinstuck Preserve Nature Trail in Kalamazoo
• Lillian Anderson Arboretum in Kalamazoo

Other Activities Near Grand Rapids Area

• Annual Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids
• Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek
• FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek
• John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids
• Lawton Ridge Winery in Kalamazoo
• Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Area Healthcare

The Grand Rapids area  is home to both small community hospitals and large thousand plus bed Level I trauma centers. Hospitals in the area include:

• Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids - 1,431 beds
• Bronson Battle Creek Hospital in Battle Creek - 796 beds
• Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo - 434 beds

Spectrum Health Butterworth, Bronson Battle Creek, and Bronson Methodist are Level I trauma centers. Bronson Methodist and Spectrum Health Butterworth are certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers.