Ionia, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 74, Ionia's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Ionia is a small community located in Missouri, within Pettis County. The total population is 74. It ranks as the 920th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ionia is 57.6 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 13.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ionia is $16,875. This is 76% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 79% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 48.6%. This is 287% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Ionia, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $64,300. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 92.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ionia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.4% of the population.

Education

3.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 90% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 51.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ionia, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.