Grand Rapids
With a metro area population of over 1.2 million, Grand Rapids is now the 2nd largest city in Michigan. Located just 30 miles from Lake Michigan, the city offers an easy commute to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Midwest. Once widely referred to as ‘The Furniture City’ for its numerous furniture manufacturing companies, it is best known today for its dense array of hospital networks. Highlighted by its Medical Mile, the city boasts the highest per capita rate of inpatient healthcare facilities in the country. Spectrum Health, alone, staffs over 30,000 employees. The city also lays claim to over 10 college and graduate campuses now, including Michigan State University’s college of human medicine. Grocery giants SpartanNash and Meijer, along with global MLM tycoon Amway, offer even more stability to an already well balanced and reliable labor force. In recent years, local brewers have become trailblazers in the craft beer explosion, opening more than 80 breweries across the city. With a blossoming population and economy along with the serene backdrop of West Michigan, Grand Rapids has become one of the most desirable places to live!
Sparta, a quaint village known throughout the state for its agriculture and vast fruit orchards, has always provided a quieter, more family-oriented lifestyle for its residents compared to the burgeoning and busy city of Grand Rapids, located just 15 miles south. Its numerous parks offer a scenic backdrop for local festivals and gatherings, along with nature and hiking trails open to the public year-round. With a growing downtown area that now includes a bowling alley, craft brewery, and several bars and restaurants, Sparta has become an attractive place to live for not only families, but young professionals throughout West Michigan. While many residents choose to commute to Grand Rapids for work, larger employers such as General Formulations and Spectrum Health, offer several employment opportunities within the village itself. Whether you are looking to raise a family in a tight knit community or find a more affordable cost of living near a large city, Sparta is the place for you!
Sparta
