A slender strip of beach traces the edge of Lake Michigan’s east side, forming one of the main attractions of Norton Shores, a town of about 25,000 near Muskegon. It's newer than most, chartered in 1968, but the town has been a lakefront destination much longer. And the third-largest of the Great Lakes isn't the only choice. There's also tiny — in comparison — Mona Lake just inland, adding another waterfront with a thin, navigable connection between the two bodies of water. "You can run smaller boats on there. It’s a channel,” says Realtor Tom Monette of Greenridge Realty, Inc. Homes vary in yard size but are generally priced below national norms. On top of that, the centrally located Muskegon County Airport offers connecting flights to major airports.
Norton Shores lies just South of Downtown Muskegon and minutes from Lake Michigan.
Lake Michigan's sand dunes mix with winter snow to make for beautiful views in Norton Shores.
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Spending time on one of two lakes
Norton Shores’ most popular outdoor spaces are on the water. Lake Harbor Park showcases the Mona Lake shoreline and the Lake Michigan beach, connecting to the larger city to the north. “Norton Shores is tied to Muskegon,'' Monette says. "A lot of the waterfront is in that city.'' P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, which stretches for 3 miles along Lake Michigan south of town, is another favorite. Aside from relaxing on the sand or going for a swim, Dune Overlook Trail is known for its views. Little Black Lake is another water choice, appropriate for fishing from smaller boats.
Pere Marquette Park is one of the largest public beaches around Muskegon.
Kruse Park has stretching wood walkways through the Lake Michigan dunes.
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Heading north to Muskegon for some events
Most of the events available to residents year-round occur 3 miles north in Muskegon. In the more frigid months, there are coffee socials, book club meetings and music trivia nights. When things warm up, the Frauenthal Center hosts live concerts, and locals gather for a Labor Day celebration at Hackley Park.
Festival of Trees has live music on the stage of the Muskegon Museum of Art.
The Port City Spectacular car show takes place annually downtown in Muskegon.
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Accessibly priced homes near Lake Michigan
The median price in Norton Shores is $275,000, below the national median but an 11% increase from the previous year. Some of the area's most expensive homes on the largest lots are built on Mona Lake, often with backyard boat docks. Lot sizes typically range from a tenth- to a quarter-acre with mostly smaller lots on the north side of town and larger ones on the south side. Bungalows and ranch-styles are the most prevalent, usually with two or three bedrooms. Roosevelt Park is north of Mona Lake and east of the beach, a largely residential area.
Cape Cod and Ranch style homes are the most commonly found in Norton Shores.
Mona Lake, in Norton Shores, is ringed with the highest value homes in the area.
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Grabbing a bite along Route 31
Most of the city’s restaurants are clustered along U.S. Route 31 on the east side of town. The thoroughfare runs north to south, bringing with it fast-food chains. A few grocery stores can also be found here, but the biggest draw is the Lakes Mall. Residents can spend an afternoon shopping inside at one of the mall’s more than two dozen retailers. For a night out after a day on the water, there are locally owned restaurants closer to Mona Lake. These range from bars to bistros to pizzerias.
Residents of Norton Shores head to Toast N' Jams for breakfast and lunch.
The Brunch House is a popular restaurant on Henry Street in Roosevelt Park.
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Mona Shores Public School District
Students in Norton Shores can enroll in the Mona Shores Public School District, which earns an overall A rating from Niche. Some 3,800 students attend class across the district’s six schools each day. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to one, the district is on par with national figures. Mona Shores’ performing arts program continues to receive the NAMM’s Best Communities for Music Education Award year after year.
Mona Shores High School in Norton Chores, MI.
Mona Shores Middle School in Norton Shores, MI.
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A short drive to the beach
The distance between Norton Shores’ two farthest points is 8 miles, so even those living on the outskirts don’t have to commute far to the commercial east side. Someone living at the city’s northeast corner, for example, will have a 6-mile, 15-minute drive to the beach, with good traffic. Non-driving residents can ride the Muskegon Area Transit System, which offers bus routes to the northern residential portion of the city. A bus ride from this area to the commercial side lasts about 20 minutes. The Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital lies about an eighth-mile north of city limits. Although there are not international airports nearby, the Muskegon County Regional Airport offers connections to Chicago O’Hare.
Locals can enjoy ice fishing during the winter months on Mona Lake in Norton Shores.
The shores of Lake Michigan become filled with icebergs during the winter months.
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Crime and high temperatures in Norton Shores
According to the FBI’s data, the crime rate in Norton Shores remains lower than that of the state and the country.
According to Risk Factor, the major environmental concerns for the residents of Norton Shores are wildfires and air pollution. The latter is an issue several days out of the year, during which the air quality is deemed poor. Norton Shores tends to have worse air quality than nearly all of Michigan’s cities.
Matias is the Owner and Broker of Giving Back Realty and a true professional with more than 20 years of experience in real estate within the United States and abroad. Thanks to his extensive industry knowledge, he excels in negotiations and his attention to detail is uncanny. No matter the situation, Matias always works tirelessly to ensure you get the house you want and deserve. Matias loves the ability real estate has to improve people’s lives and that is why he is GIVING BACK 25% of his earnings to the community.
In his spare time, Matias loves spending time with his family and serving the community. Some of his favorite things to do with his family are spend time outdoors, playing board games, or on more relaxed occasions watching movies. Matias serves the community by working as a board member of multiple non-profits. In addition, he also spends time leading first time home-buyer and financial literacy courses/workshops.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
