What are the schools like in Ionia, MI?

Ionia is served primarily by Ionia Public Schools. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.6:1.

What is the median household income in Ionia?

The median household income in Ionia, MI is $60,413 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Ionia, MI?

Ionia has an average high temperature of 28.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 54.2 inches.

Ionia, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ionia, MI affordable or expensive?

Ionia's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ionia is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $152,100 and the median rent is $855 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ionia, MI?

Ionia has a violent crime rate of 184.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 554.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ionia, MI a Good Place to Live?

Ionia is a small city of 13,081 in Michigan, with a median household income of $60,413 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Ionia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ionia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ionia city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.2

Ionia's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ionia costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ionia, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$152,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$855	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,413	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ionia's violent crime rate is 184.9 per 100,000 residents — 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

184.9 /100k

Property Crime

554.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ionia is served primarily by Ionia Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ionia, MI	National Avg
School District	Ionia Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ionia sees average highs of 28.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 35.9 inches of annual precipitation and 54.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ionia, MI
Average High — January	28.9°F
Average High — July	80.9°F
Annual Precipitation	35.9"
Annual Snowfall	54.2"

Demographics

Metric	Ionia, MI	National Avg
Population	13,081	—
Median Age	36.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	18.2%	22.2%
65 and over	10.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lyons, MI 7 mi Muir, MI 7 mi Saranac, MI 8 mi Palo, MI 10 mi Belding, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Ionia

Ionia, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48846

Ionia vs Other Cities

Ionia, MI vs Lyons, MI Ionia, MI vs Muir, MI Ionia, MI vs Saranac, MI Ionia, MI vs Palo, MI Ionia, MI vs Belding, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ionia, MI affordable or expensive?

Ionia's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ionia roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $152,100 and median rent is $855/month.

What is the crime rate in Ionia, MI?

Ionia's violent crime rate is 184.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 554.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ionia?

Public schools in Ionia are operated by Ionia Public Schools. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.6:1. 10.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ionia, MI a good place to live?

Ionia, MI has a population of 13,081, a median household income of $60,413, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ionia?

Ionia averages 28.9°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.9 inches with about 54.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ionia?

Ionia, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48846.

What is the population of Ionia?

The population of Ionia, Michigan is 13,081 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ionia?

Key numbers for living in Ionia: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $152,100, median household income $60,413, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ionia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.