North Plains
Strong schools draw families here
The quick answer
North Plains is a township, part of Carson City-Crystal Area Schools. Homes here typically sell for around $288,000.
1 home for sale·Median $288K·Walkability 0.0/10·Schools 6.0/10
The first thing you notice driving in is the roll of the land itself—undulating fields broken by stretches of genuine flat country to the west, the kind of agricultural terrain that earned this township a reputation for productivity back when such things were ranked by state. North Plains Township, anchored by the village of Hubbardston, is rural Michigan in the plainest, most literal sense: 23,000 acres of farmland and small-town life in Ionia County, about 70 minutes from Gerald R. Ford airport if you're headed somewhere bigger. Groceries are roughly 2 miles away. The township's architectural spine includes St. John the Baptist, a brick church built in 1868 that was once the largest in the county—a physical anchor for what was organized as an Irish Catholic parish and what remains a genuinely rural place where most people own their homes. Fish Creek runs through here with enough power to have turned mills once; history settled into the land long ago, and it hasn't left. You're looking at a landscape defined by what grows there and what people built to stay, not by what's convenient to somewhere else.
Why people love it here
Carson City Elementary School
- Elementary — 7.3 mi away
- Carson City-Crystal
- 1 rated school in district
$62K median household income
- $288K median · 4 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in North Plains
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,952/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.
4 homes sold in North Plains this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthBased on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 7/10
School District: Carson City-Crystal Area Schools
Median Income
$62K
Household
Median Sale Price
$288K
4 sales in last 12mo
Expected Rent
$1,200/mo
$975 – $1,425 · wider-area estimate
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Beach on Stage Rd
Most of North Plains is policed by the Ionia County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (385 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (56 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
No homicides were reported in 2024.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 385 |
| Aggravated assault | 56 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 49 |
| Burglary | 46 |
| Rape | 39 |
| Arson | 5 |
| Homicide | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Ionia County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Ionia County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not North Plains alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced North Plains home (around $287,500) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $46k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,710 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical North Plains household earns $62,054 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $400,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,710/mo | $45,596 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,002/mo | $53,397 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,101/mo | $56,020 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 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.
Who actually lends in North Plains, 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.
Local Government
North Plains 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.
Solar potential
~$849/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,234 kWh/yr · offsets ~59% of a typical home's use
Private well
Rural; individual wells.
Septic - individual
On-site septic.
Resident-arranged private hauler
Resident contracts hauler.
Consumers Energy Co|Tri County Electric Coop (MI) · ~13.6¢/kWh
Investor-owned utility.
Confirm by addressLyons-Muir Fire Department
Muir/Lyons-area FD; North Plains Twp surrounds Muir.
Source: ioniacounty.org
Utility, solar, and service details for North Plains 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
$62K
Home Value (Census)
$168K
Expected Rent
$1,200/mo
$975 – $1,425 · wider-area estimate
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Mill Pond Park
2.2 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about North Plains? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in North Plains: the details
Is North Plains a good place to live?
Here is a data-based look at what living in North Plains is like. Day to day, it is mostly a drive-first area, so you will use a car for groceries, dining and errands. This township is part of Carson City-Crystal Area Schools. The going price is around $288,000.
What does it cost to live in North Plains?
The median home value in North Plains is about $288,000. There is 1 home for sale here right now and 4 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about North Plains
- What do homes cost in North Plains?
- The median home value in North Plains is about $287,500. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the North Plains housing market?
- there is 1 home for sale in North Plains right now, and 4 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve North Plains?
- North Plains is served by Carson City-Crystal Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Carson City Elementary School (7/10).
- Is North Plains walkable?
- North Plains scores 0.0/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
