Grand Rapids, MI

The nation's largest study exploring what makes homeowners happy where it matters most — in their homes.

Grand Rapids, MI

How Happy Are Grand Rapids' Homeowners?

Once known as the furniture manufacturing capital of the world, Grand Rapids is today a resurgent city brimming with breweries, farm-to-table restaurants and art galleries. And there are hundreds of recreational trails as close as five minutes from the city center. But despite the great strides the city’s making in terms of recreation and entertainment, homeowners say there’s room for improvement when it comes to where they live. So, what would make Grand Rapids’ homeowners happier? A mix of interior and exterior upgrades, they say — including remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, professional landscaping, hot tubs and solar energy.

Grand Rapids's homeowners told us about the completed home projects that have brought them the most joy - and about the projects they desire that will make them even happier. When projects overlap, it means they make homeowners happy whether they're enjoying them now or aspiring to enjoy them later.

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Painted interior room/area
  • Remodeled the kitchen
  • Planted a garden/landscaping
  • Replaced/refinished flooring
  • Remodeled a bathroom

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Remodel the kitchen
  • Remodel a bathroom
  • Replace/add windows
  • Build a patio/deck/porch/sun room
  • Replace/refinish flooring

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Over 300 types of projects

Over 1 million reported costs

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Happiest Home Features

Grand Rapids's homeowners told us about the home features that have brought them the most joy - and about the features they desire that will make them even happier. When projects overlap, it means they make homeowners happy whether they're enjoying them now or aspiring to enjoy them later.

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Central air conditioning
  • Lots of natural light
  • Up-to-date kitchen
  • Hardwood flooring
  • New appliances

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Up-to-date bathrooms
  • Up-to-date kitchen
  • New windows
  • Marble or quartz countertops
  • Freshly painted interior

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Patio or deck
  • Attached garage
  • Trees
  • Garden
  • Front porch

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Professional landscaping
  • Solar energy roofing features
  • New roof
  • Freshly painted exterior
  • Hot tub

It's not just projects and features that make Grand Rapids's homeowners happy, but also factors such as equity, community and accessibility.

What Makes
Homeowners Happy?

  • Reasonable cost of living
  • Easy access to highways
  • Rising home values & equity
  • Can live & work in close proximity
  • Lots of green space

Overall Home
Happiness

85%

of homeowners consider themselves at least somewhat happy with their homes.

Impact of Home
Equity on Happiness

To Be Happier In My Home
I'd Like To...

55%

of homeowners say they would be happier if they could remodel or add on to their homes.

The results of our Homeowner Happiness Survey suggest that these characteristics describe the average Grand Rapids home:

  • Homeowners have:3.2 bedrooms

  • Homeowners have:2.0 bathrooms

  • Average time living in home:13 years

  • Average square footage:1,900

  • Age of home:41 years

  • Avg. home price (Feb. '18):155,000Powered by Redfin

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Interested in knowing more about what makes homeowners happy - in Grand Rapids, in other cities, and in the United States as a whole?

Check out the full Homeowner Happiness Report and find out more about our methodology.