Signals
Ionia
Jenison
Opportunity
29 · Bottom 6%
vs44 · Bottom 25%
Climate
62 · Bottom 22%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 29%
vs95 · Top 4%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs69 · Bottom 33%
Schools
40 · Bottom 35%
vs82 · Top 11%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs95 · Top 34%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 24%
vs72 · Top 23%
Measured values
| Metric | Ionia | Jenison | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,753 | 17,582 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,978 | $89,593 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $24,127 | $36,822 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,357/sq mi | 3,003/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $164,800 | $281,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $852 | $2,306 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.6% | 87.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.5% | -7.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 35.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 3.7% | 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 | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 21.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 37.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.67 | 15.41 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.8% | 55.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 44.8% | 68.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 54.7% | 24.5% | 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.
Jenison
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Ionia, MI · Jenison, MI · How this is calculated: methodology