The Town FilesBoston, Michigan
Township in Ionia County · population 6,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,400
- Household income
- $83,977
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 66 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 39.9
Boston is a township of 6,021 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $235,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Michigan towns, better for families than 90% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Boston ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Boston is worth $235,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $83,977, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $698 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boston | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $698 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,977 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Boston
| People | Boston | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Boston
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boston since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1956 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Ionia County since 1996
Ionia County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ionia County
Ionia County had 18,530 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,605 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Boston itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Boston
- Lowell, MI5.5 mi · 4,142 people · home $228,400
- Lowell, MI6.1 mi · 6,276 people · home $321,600
- Bowne, MI8.0 mi · 3,289 people · home $360,500
- Odessa, MI8.2 mi · 3,918 people · home $197,200
- Vergennes, MI8.6 mi · 4,741 people · home $392,300
- Easton, MI8.8 mi · 3,058 people · home $192,000
- Ionia, MI10.7 mi · 13,378 people · home $164,800
- Cascade, MI12.1 mi · 19,667 people · home $472,500
Boston questions
Is Boston, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boston scores better for retirees than 36% of Michigan towns and quieter than 38%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Boston?
The median owner-occupied home in Boston is valued at $235,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,977, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $698 a month.
What is the weather like in Boston?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 65.9 inches of snow.
Does Boston get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)