Benona
Surrounded by nature
12 homes for sale·Median $523K·Schools 5.7/10
Out here, the rolling glacial valleys are what catch you first—those panoramic sweeps across farmland and woods that line US 31 south of Shelby, where the land just keeps folding away toward the horizon. It's the kind of terrain that makes sense for acreage, and most of what exists does: ten-acre parcels with polebarn workshops, five-acre spreads with room for horses, the occasional cottage tucked into the trees with lake views across the road. Stony Lake anchors the eastern edge—an all-sports lake with channel access to Lake Michigan itself—and the proximity to actual shoreline, just minutes away, shapes what people build and how they live. A grocery is 1.2 miles in, and there's enough scattered within a mile—restaurants, a coffee shop, more than a handful of options for eating out—that you're not isolated, just set back from things. The Stony Creek Nature Preserve sits adjacent, and the sense of the place is one of working land with water access: geothermal homes on acreage, modern cabin rentals aimed at people looking to step away, mobile homes on lakefront deeds where fishing and kayaking are the point. It reads less like a typical neighborhood and more like what happens when you zone for rural living but keep the practical essentials and genuine water access close enough to matter.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Stony Lake within walking distance
$72K median household income
- $523K median · 18 sales in last 12mo
Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Benona
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,552/mo
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS Consumer Access
18 homes sold in Benona this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Stony Creek Nature Preserve
2.0 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Stony Lake
0.0 mi
Based on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 4/10 to 7/10
School District: Shelby Public Schools
Most of Benona is policed by the Oceana County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (470 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (180 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
For perspective, homicide — the most serious crime — was reported at about 0.005% of the population, roughly 1 in 20,000 residents.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 470 |
| Aggravated assault | 180 |
| Burglary | 119 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 76 |
| Rape | 71 |
| Robbery | 9 |
| Homicide | 5 |
| Arson | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Oceana County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Oceana County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Benona alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Benona home (around $523,250) at today's 6.43% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $80k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,987 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Benona household earns $71,607 — about $8,041 below what the median home requires, which is why many local buyers look below $523,250 or put more down. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $467,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,987/mo | $79,648 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $3,511/mo | $93,636 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $3,686/mo | $98,305 |
Estimates use a 6.43% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not an APR or a commitment to lend — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
13 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$45K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$160K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Benona, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Local Government
Benona Township
unconfirmed
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Private well
Rural Lake Michigan shoreline township; individual wells
Septic - individual
No municipal sewer; individual septic
Resident-arranged private hauler; Oceana County transfer/recycling
No municipal collection; county transfer/recycling center available
Service splits by location — other areas may be served by Great Lakes Energy. Confirm by address.
Confirm by addressNo piped natural gas (propane/LP)
Rural; typically propane
Confirm by addressSource: oceana.mi.us
Utility, solar, and service details for Benona are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Median Income
$72K
Home Value (Census)
$224K
🛒 Grocery(1)
Parkside Store
Grocery Store
🍕 Restaurants(8)
The Farmhouse
Restaurant
Restaurant
Stony Lake Inn
Restaurant
Pizza Factory
Restaurant
Restaurant
+3 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(1)
Golden Bakery Donut Shop
Café
🏫 Schools(5)
Frequently asked about Benona
- What do homes cost in Benona?
- The median home value in Benona is about $523,250. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Benona housing market?
- there are 12 homes for sale in Benona right now, and 18 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Benona?
- Benona is served by Shelby Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Shelby Middle School (7/10).
