Signals
Monroe
Ionia
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 4%
vs29 · Bottom 6%
Climate
62 · Bottom 24%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 34%
vs76 · Top 29%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 10%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
57 · Top 43%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Access
93 · Top 47%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 20%
vs45 · Bottom 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Monroe | Ionia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,320 | 12,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,813 | $63,978 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,285 | $24,127 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,246/sq mi | 2,357/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $167,900 | $164,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $909 | $852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 59.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.6% | -7.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 10.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 84°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 19°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.3" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 24 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 36.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.13 | 17.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 35.7% | 25.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.6% | 44.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 60.0% | 54.7% | 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
Monroe
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Ionia
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, cold wave.
Full profiles: Monroe, MI · Ionia, MI · How this is calculated: methodology