Population 66,574 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Ionia County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Ionia County
Household size in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.69 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.69 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.66 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.03 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.69 people per household, Ionia County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.65 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other Michigan county has larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4 | 36.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.4 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 37.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 38.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.3 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 39.8, the median age in Ionia County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the wider Grand Rapids area, where the median age is 38.3. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.4, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 9.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Ionia County (11.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Grand Rapids area overall (9.7%). The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ionia County
Renters in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 24.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 26.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 25.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ionia County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (40.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.8 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 9.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 8.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 6.6% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Ionia County: 7.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Ionia County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Michigan counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1974 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1974 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1978 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +5 | +3 | +6 |
Ionia County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $662 | $800 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $697 | $848 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $758 | $950 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $941 | $1,285 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$279 | +$485 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ionia County costs $941 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $279 a month since 2006–10, up 42%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.5% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ionia County
Bachelor's degrees in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 27.1% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 29.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 31.9% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 36.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +9.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ionia County: 18.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.4 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.6% | 88.5% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.1% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 91.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 92.2% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ionia County is a bit above the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Grand Rapids area. The share with a diploma has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ionia County
| Period | Ionia County | Grand Rapids area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.5 pts | −5.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ionia County runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 7.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ionia County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionia County | 2.69 | 39.8 | 11.0% | 22.7% | 7.1% | 1969 | $941 | 18.6% | 90.8% | 3.8% |
| Kent County | 2.63 | 37.4 | 10.6% | 29.7% | 5.8% | 1976 | $1,388 | 40.7% | 92.0% | 4.1% |
| Clinton County | 2.54 | 41.1 | 8.8% | 17.8% | 5.8% | 1981 | $1,160 | 35.8% | 95.4% | 3.6% |
| Ottawa County | 2.68 | 38.3 | 8.0% | 20.7% | 6.2% | 1987 | $1,285 | 40.0% | 93.8% | 3.4% |
| Shiawassee County | 2.43 | 43.9 | 10.2% | 19.9% | 7.8% | 1967 | $959 | 20.3% | 92.6% | 3.8% |
| Genesee County | 2.47 | 41.3 | 14.9% | 29.3% | 8.6% | 1972 | $1,119 | 23.7% | 91.6% | 8.3% |
| Lapeer County | 2.53 | 45.2 | 9.9% | 14.0% | 7.4% | 1979 | $1,141 | 20.6% | 92.2% | 4.9% |
| St. Clair County | 2.38 | 44.6 | 10.4% | 19.2% | 6.5% | 1975 | $1,066 | 20.3% | 91.9% | 5.6% |
| Milwaukee County | 2.43 | 36.6 | 15.9% | 50.1% | 8.7% | 1958 | $1,176 | 34.0% | 88.9% | 5.1% |
| Waukesha County | 2.49 | 44.2 | 6.5% | 24.0% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,484 | 49.2% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| Jefferson County | 2.41 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 26.9% | 6.3% | 1974 | $1,074 | 28.9% | 92.3% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sampson County, NC · Lea County, NM · Lewis and Clark County, MT · Reno County, KS · Riley County, KS · Robertson County, TN · Rutherford County, NC · Rutland County, VT · Salem County, NJ · Laurens County, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ionia County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.