Population 6,956 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Ironwood
Household size in Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.06 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.01 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.00 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Ironwood are small: just 2.00 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.04, as it has nationally. Only three of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have smaller 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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.1 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.2 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Ironwood skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.1, 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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Ironwood than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. The single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Ironwood
Renters in Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ironwood is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 61.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.6% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.9% of the housing in Ironwood, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1947 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1948 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
Ironwood is a place of older homes: half were built before 1948, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Only six of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $588 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $596 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $531 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $632 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$45 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ironwood costs $632 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $45 a month since 2006–10, up 8%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Ironwood has the lowest rents of any Michigan city with 5,000+ people.
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 Ironwood
Bachelor's degrees in Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.6% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Ironwood have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 25.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.6% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.4% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ironwood: 94.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 0.8 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Ironwood
| Period | Ironwood | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Ironwood: 9.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 17 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. 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).
Ironwood compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwood | 2.00 | 47.2 | 9.8% | 23.2% | 21.9% | 1948 | $632 | 25.0% | 94.4% | 9.6% |
| Hillcrest | 2.05 | 51.9 | 13.4% | 21.1% | 38.3% | 1973 | $643 | 22.4% | 97.0% | 5.6% |
| Hurley | 1.92 | 50.5 | 7.2% | 19.7% | 25.5% | 1957 | $756 | 21.9% | 94.6% | 3.1% |
| Gile | 2.26 | 43.4 | 16.6% | 9.2% | 28.1% | 1955 | $790 | 22.6% | 96.6% | 3.7% |
| Hautala Corner | 2.06 | 55.2 | 7.6% | 8.6% | 35.6% | 1968 | $641 | 30.9% | 98.8% | 3.3% |
| Montreal | 2.18 | 44.4 | 13.6% | 9.5% | 26.5% | 1960 | $782 | 21.1% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Bessemer | 2.06 | 49.0 | 8.0% | 22.1% | 31.5% | 1951 | $710 | 21.0% | 97.0% | 6.6% |
| Van Buskirk | 1.94 | 59.3 | 6.9% | 8.9% | 51.4% | 1979 | $587 | 32.1% | 93.8% | 1.6% |
| Kimball | 2.01 | 51.7 | 12.7% | 4.8% | 36.1% | 1971 | $1,039 | 22.8% | 96.3% | 3.1% |
| Pence | 2.16 | 47.2 | 15.5% | 6.2% | 32.5% | 1963 | $928 | 23.0% | 96.5% | 3.3% |
| Ramsay | 2.21 | 42.9 | 4.4% | 24.6% | 24.4% | 1951 | $539 | 15.2% | 96.3% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Chickasaw, AL · Clintonville, WI · Clinton, IN · Clermont, GA · Claxton, GA · Clarion, PA · Citrus, CA · Cicero, IN · Churubusco, IN · Churchville, NY
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 Ironwood. 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.
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