The Town FilesDanby, Michigan
Township in Ionia County · population 2,953 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,800
- Household income
- $92,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.8
Danby is a township of 2,953 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $288,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 87% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Danby 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 Danby is worth $288,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $92,768, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $891 a month. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Danby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $891 | $955 |
| Median household income | $92,768 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.8% | — |
Who lives in Danby
| People | Danby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Danby
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 37.3 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Danby since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 10.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 6, 2004.
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 Danby itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Danby
- Portland, MI4.4 mi · 3,796 people · home $166,200
- Eagle, MI6.0 mi · 2,776 people · home $257,400
- Portland, MI6.9 mi · 3,881 people · home $258,400
- Oneida, MI7.9 mi · 3,986 people · home $261,000
- Grand Ledge, MI8.7 mi · 7,784 people · home $194,000
- Odessa, MI12.3 mi · 3,918 people · home $197,200
- Benton, MI12.5 mi · 2,766 people · home $275,000
- Watertown, MI12.5 mi · 5,563 people · home $288,700
Danby questions
Is Danby, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Danby scores better for retirees than 52% of Michigan towns and quieter than 24%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Danby?
The median owner-occupied home in Danby is valued at $288,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,768, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $891 a month.
What is the weather like in Danby?
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 37.3 inches of snow.
Does Danby get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Danby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. 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)