Signals
Walker
Ionia
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 45%
vs29 · Bottom 6%
Climate
62 · Bottom 22%
vs62 · Bottom 22%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 5%
vs76 · Top 29%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 36%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
64 · Top 34%
vs40 · Bottom 35%
Access
96 · Top 31%
vs90 · Bottom 41%
Economic stability
75 · Top 17%
vs45 · Bottom 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Walker | Ionia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,386 | 12,753 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $76,360 | $63,978 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,951 | $24,127 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,033/sq mi | 2,357/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $295,200 | $164,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,202 | $852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 59.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.4% | -7.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.6% | 10.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 12.0% | 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 | 14 mi | 24 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.9 | 36.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.77 | 17.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 44.4% | 25.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.7% | 44.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 40.7% | 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
Walker
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Ionia
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, cold wave.
Full profiles: Walker, MI · Ionia, MI · How this is calculated: methodology