Caledonia, MI 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Located in Kent County, Michigan, Caledonia is a small village in the Grand Rapids metro area. 55+ communities in Caledonia are popular among active adults for abundant outdoor recreation throughout all four seasons. In addition, retirees enjoy nearby quality health care and a local farmers market.

Climate and Geography

Caledonia has a humid continental climate with all four seasons. Residents can expect frequently varying temperatures and snowstorms in the winter. Caledonia averages 37 inches of rain, 67 inches of snow, and 162 sunny days per year.

The Caledonia Lakeside Park on Emmons Lake is in the center of the village, and the Thornapple River flows to the east.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment

Caledonia has numerous options for local shopping and dining. Railtown Brewing Company and Glass Creek Winery are popular for their craft beverages, and the weekly Caledonia Farmers Market features local produce and artisans.

For outdoor recreation, active adults enjoy the Caledonia Lakeside Park, where they can fish and hike on Emmons Lake. This park also leads to the hiking trails at the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail.

For more entertainment, shopping, dining, residents head to Grand Rapids, a half-hour away.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living in Caledonia is higher than the state and national averages because of high housing costs.

Michigan fully exempts Social Security benefits, military pensions, and railroad retirement benefits from taxation. Other forms of retirement income are taxed at the state’s flat tax rate of 4.25 percent, but much of this is deductible. Both sales and property taxes in the state are higher than average.

Health Care

The Grand Rapids metro area, which includes 55+ communities in Caledonia, scores well on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 35 communities.

There are no hospitals in Caledonia, but Spectrum Health-Butterworth and Blodgett Campuses in Grand Rapids is nationally ranked by U.S. News. Other nearby high performing hospitals include Mercy Health St. Mary’s Campus and Metro Health-University of Michigan Health-Wyoming.