© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Ionia.
About
Life in Ionia
Ionia is a community of 12,950 people in Michigan. The median household income is $63,978, median rent runs about $852 per month, and median home values are around $164,800. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Ionia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
83.2%
of households
Population Growth
-8.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ionia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ionia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.7%), and 3.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
14.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.6%
of households
Married Couples
36.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Ionia
In Ionia, rent runs 25% below the MI average, and home values are 29% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,898
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $229,964 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Ionia
Unemployment in Ionia County, which includes Ionia, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Ionia: Ionia County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ionia County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Commute22.2 min avg
How Ionia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ionia, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 102 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ionia runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
266.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
466.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ionia Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
55.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ionia County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ionia County, which includes Ionia, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 4 | Hail | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.6M |
| 2022 | 8 | Winter Storm | $230,000 |
| 2021 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $335,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.6M |
| 2018 | 1 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ionia County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kent County, MI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 24 miles from Ionia) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
153
per year
Moderate Days
203
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Kent County, MI (24 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ionia has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
54.2"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
148
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 16°F | 2.20" |
| Feb | 32°F | 16°F | 1.71" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 2.23" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.28" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 3.97" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 3.88" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 3.37" |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.03" |
| Oct | 59°F | 40°F | 3.55" |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 2.79" |
| Dec | 34°F | 22°F | 2.22" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ionia
Ionia has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Sparrow Ionia Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ionia
Ionia's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 10.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ionia
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Ionia
Ionia Community Library
126 East Main Street, Ionia
Cities Near Ionia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ionia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ionia FAQ
Is Ionia, Michigan affordable?⌄
Ionia's median rent is $852/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,978/year. Median home value is $164,800.
Is Ionia, Michigan safe?⌄
Ionia's violent crime rate was 267 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 467 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ionia, Michigan?⌄
Ionia County, which includes Ionia, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ionia, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Ionia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $852/month and median household income is $63,978/year. The median home value is $164,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ionia, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Ionia is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from