Compare Grandville, Hudsonville and Caledonia (Grand Rapids, Jenison: homes, neighborhoods, school district)

[searchin'supermom]

Could anyone tell me more about these communities. The schools seem to be very good in all three (not as sure about Grandville), but I would like to know more of the "inside scoop" on each community and it's assets and drawbacks.

We are looking for an upper-middle class area with safe, younger family neighborhoods up to the low 200's. We like the feeling of a small-town community with the convience of nearby shopping, dining, etc. If you were moving, which would be your top choice and why. Are there areas or schools that we should avoid in any of these?

Thanks so much!

[GMonkey]

I'd choose according to where you work. Gas is expensive, and it's not going down in price. Caledonia is closest to Grand Rapids while still having the most country feel about it.

[bluezee]

I agree with the previous poster - all three communities are decent, it just depends on where you work. Grandville is more populated and closest to downtown GR. The attractive thing about Hudsonville is that most of the homes are newer because development has been booming out there. Caledonia is a fantastic area with great schools and would be my first choice if I had to rank them. I noticed that Byron Center wasn't on your list....it is also conveniently located off of M-6 like the other areas you mentioned and is definitely worth a look.

[TimmTimm2NC]

From what I have heard from friends who have gone to each, and to my own knowledge, Grandville is the best of the three you listed, but they're all pretty good school systems.

[GRRAZO]

They are all sililar, but the perception of each is:
Hudsonville is old school conservative, don't mow your grass on a Sunday, farm land a small village and new subburban development.

Grandville while used to be quite, is pretty much filled out and is becomming more diverse, its more city where you can walk places, theres a lot of shopping, its closer to downtown.

Caladonia could be a large area. It is a small village surrounded but new housing developments and farm land. Its closer to the airport area and probably a little more varity in housing there as well as some hicks way out there.

These may all be changing and of course are my perceptions.

[somuchbetter]

Hudsonville is very conservative. At graduations, they hand out bibles. Unless you are a conservative, old-fashioned Christian, I would avoid. However, I love their summer fair and the neighborhoods.

Grandville is okay, but the school is enormous and right in the middle of malls, shopping, restaurants, everything. After they built the school, it was at capacity within two years. It's a little chaotic and there are a lot of rich kids that go there. Sports teams do very well.

Caledonia is probably the furthest away from what I'm familiar of, but the school district is probably the smallest, but you definitely get the country feel.

I personally went to Jenison, which is between Hudsonville and Grandville. It's exactly a cross between the conservative Hudsonville and the not-so conservative Grandville. I really enjoyed it and felt like I got a lot out of my education. Plus, you still get direct access to Hudsonville, Grandville and Grand Rapids. I also went to GVSU, right down the road, which was very convenient.

Good luck!