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Ionia County, MI

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ionia County, MI is $1,209 per month, ranking #379 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $73,436, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 19.8% of income on housing. Rent in Ionia County has increased 9.1% year over year. The area has a population of 67K, with 22.8% of households renting.

19.8%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,209
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$73,436
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$840
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+9.1%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
67K
Population
Census ACS
22.8%
Renters
of occupied housing
$189,400
Median Home Value
4.4%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
7.1%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
11.4%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$834
Studio
$921
1 Bedroom
$1,209
2 Bedroom
$1,481
3 Bedroom
$1,931
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Ionia County, MI, a household earning the area median income of $73,436 would spend 19.8% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$48,360
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$23
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$840
$369 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+36.8% since 2022
$8842022$1,0232023$1,1082024$1,1752025$1,2092026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Michigan is $12.48/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 74.5 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Ionia County is 11.4%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$12.48/hr
Hours/Week Needed
74.5 hrs
Poverty Rate
11.4%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Ionia County is $189,400. At a median income of $73,436, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.6x. 7.1% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average. The local unemployment rate is 4.4%, roughly in line with national averages.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,326 est. mortgage
vs $1,209 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
7.1%
of housing units
Unemployment
4.4%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Michigan

Ann Arbor
$1,656/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden
Grand Rapids-Wyoming
$1,531/mo
2BR FMR · 22.9% burden
Holland-Grand Haven
$1,519/mo
2BR FMR · 22.7% burden
Leelanau County
$1,497/mo
2BR FMR · 19.5% burden
Livingston County
$1,457/mo
2BR FMR · 23.3% burden

Compare Ionia County

vs Ann Arbor, MIvs Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MIvs Holland-Grand Haven, MI

Areas With Similar Rent to Ionia County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Ionia County, MI is $1,209 per month. A studio is $834/mo, a 1-bedroom is $921/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,481/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $840/mo.

Ionia County has a rent burden of 19.8%, meaning a household earning the median income of $73,436 would spend 19.8% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $48,360.

Ionia County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,209/mo is $41 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Ionia County ranks #379 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ionia County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $48,360, or a full-time hourly wage of $23/hour. The area median income is $73,436.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ionia County increased by 9.1% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.