Signals
Ionia
Grand Rapids
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 6%
vs30 · Bottom 6%
Climate
62 · Bottom 22%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 29%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
40 · Bottom 35%
vs39 · Bottom 33%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 24%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Ionia | Grand Rapids | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,753 | 198,535 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,978 | $69,108 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $24,127 | $35,921 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,357/sq mi | 4,434/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $164,800 | $244,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $852 | $1,266 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.6% | 54.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.5% | -7.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 41.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.4" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 20.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 32.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 60 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.67 | 16.35 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.8% | 25.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.8% | 38.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 54.7% | 61.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ionia
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, cold wave.
Grand Rapids
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Ionia
63
Your Score
—
Area Score
Grand Rapids
65
Your Score
61
Area Score
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Full profiles: Ionia, MI · Grand Rapids, MI · How this is calculated: methodology