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Ionia County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Ionia County, Michigan has a population of 66,574, the 30th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $75,611 and the median home value is $198,500. The poverty rate is 10.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Ionia County Quick Facts

Population 66,574
Median Household Income $75,611
Median Home Value $198,500
Poverty Rate 10.6%
Unemployment Rate 3.9%
Median Age 39.1 years
Homeownership Rate 77.3%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.5%
High School Graduation 91.0%
Cities/Places 10
Population 66,574 30th of 83
Median Income $75,611 4% higher than state
Poverty Rate 10.6%
Unemployment 3.9%

How Ionia County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population66,70666,574-0.2%
Median household income$73,436$75,611+3.0%
Median home value$189,400$198,500+4.8%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.1%
$25K-$50K 18.2%
$50K-$100K 34.0%
$100K+ 32.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.3%
$10K-$15K
3.7%
$15K-$20K
3.1%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
4.5%
$35K-$40K
4.1%
$40K-$45K
3.4%
$45K-$50K
3.8%
$50K-$60K
6.1%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
17.9%
$100K-$125K
11.4%
$125K-$150K
7.4%
$150K-$200K
8.7%
$200K+
5.1%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%
59.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.3%
Renter 22.7%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $884/mo 14.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Ionia County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ionia12,753$63,97812.0%$164,800
Belding5,960$60,37315.5%$163,800
Portland3,790$65,8457.3%$166,200
Lake Odessa2,155$62,81313.5%$148,600
Saranac2,013$66,94415.3%$202,800
Lyons896$68,60312.2%$121,500
Muir490$46,77114.1%$143,100
Pewamo439$72,5006.6%$189,400
Clarksville417$75,6259.3%$173,000
Palo375$34,48920.3%$94,300

Population Overview

Ionia County is located in Michigan with a total population of 66,574. It is the 30th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ionia County is 39.1 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ionia County is $75,611. This is 4% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $198,500. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Ionia County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ionia County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

18.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ionia County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ionia County, Michigan?

Ionia County has a population of 66,574, making it the 30th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Ionia County?

The median household income in Ionia County is $75,611 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.

How many cities are in Ionia County, Michigan?

Ionia County contains 10 Census-designated places.