Ionia
Solid value in a growing area
16 homes for sale·Median $199K·Walkability 6.0/10·Schools 5.2/10
The Ionia Free Fair dominates the calendar here—400,000 visitors pour in annually for what's been the world's largest free-admission fair since 1857, and the historic grandstand has hosted everyone from Les Paul to Willie Nelson. The fair isn't just a September tradition; it anchors the whole character of this city of 11,400 people, 32 miles east of Grand Rapids. Downtown stays intact with its colonial revival homes and preserved storefronts—the City Market and the John C. Blanchard House anchor the historic district—and the Fred Meijer Grand River Trail runs through town, giving you places to fish, picnic, and launch boats. The bones of the place are walkable: groceries and coffee shops are steps away, a dozen parks sit within a mile, and dining options cluster nearby with 15 restaurants in a 1-mile radius. Homes run around $225K, which isn't cheap for rural Michigan but reflects what you're getting—a place with actual history and draw, not just a bedroom suburb. The Ionia Public Schools serve over 2,800 students, and Ventra counts as one of the largest employers. It's the kind of town where something genuinely happens every year, where the downtown didn't get hollowed out, and where you can still move around on foot without treating it like an expedition.
Why people love it here
$61K median household income
- $199K median · 77 sales in last 12mo
Very walkable
- Entertainment Park: 3 min walk
- 12 places within a 10 min walk
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Ionia
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,348/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
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. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
77 homes sold in Ionia this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthWalkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Ionia City Market
Olivera's Restaurant
+1 more
Sozo Coffee Roasting
Steele Street Brewery
Entertainment Park
+1 more
Playground at S Dexter St & W Adams St
Sessions Creek
Ionia River Trail
Cycleway loop off Steele St
Rite Aid
Ionia Community Library
Ionia Theatre
Based on 6 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 7/10
School District: Ionia Public Schools
In 2024, the most common reported offenses in Ionia were larceny / theft (496 per 100,000 residents) and rape (101 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting — with a comparison to similar-size Michigan cities below.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 496 |
| Rape | 101 |
| Aggravated assault | 76 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 34 |
| Burglary | 25 |
| Robbery | 8 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Arson | 0 |
How Ionia compares to similar-size Michigan cities
| City | Population | Violent /100k | Property /100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionia | 11,901 | 185 | 555 |
| East Grand Rapids | 11,442 | 61 | 1,084 |
| Grand Haven | 10,997 | 209 | 946 |
| Cadillac | 10,449 | 469 | 2,488 |
| Muskegon Heights | 9,785 | 1,073 | 2,882 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Ionia Police Department, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Comparison cities are the nearest in population, ordered by size — not ranked by crime. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Ionia home (around $198,500) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $33k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,236 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Ionia household earns $60,729 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $391,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,236/mo | $32,960 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $1,436/mo | $38,287 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $1,503/mo | $40,068 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 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 a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
10 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$141K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$32K
Per listing
Multifamily for sale
Listings
4 buildings
Active / pending
Median Price
$250K
Per building
Price Per Unit
$102K
Median
Who actually lends in Ionia, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
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.
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.
Solar potential
~$869/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,340 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Ionia Department of Public Safety
Combined public safety (police/fire/EMS); officers cross-trained.
Source: ci.ionia.mi.us
Utility, solar, and service details for Ionia 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
$61K
Home Value (Census)
$161K
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Trailhead Park
0.2 mi
Parks Nearby
60
within 1 mile
🛒 Grocery(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(6)
Restaurant
Fast Food
Fast Food
Restaurant
Restaurant
+1 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(1)
🍺 Bars(1)
🏫 Schools(14)
School
School
Saint Johns School
Temple School
+9 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🏥 Hospitals(1)
📚 Libraries(1)
Ionia Community Library
Frequently asked about Ionia
- What do homes cost in Ionia?
- The median home value in Ionia is about $198,500. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Ionia housing market?
- there are 16 homes for sale in Ionia right now, and 77 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Ionia?
- Ionia is served by Ionia Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Ionia Middle School (7/10).
- Is Ionia walkable?
- Ionia scores 6.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
