The Town FilesNorth Plains, Michigan
Township in Ionia County · population 1,191 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,000
- Household income
- $60,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.7
North Plains is a township of 1,191 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 83% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 76% of Michigan towns.
How North Plains 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 North Plains is worth $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $60,724, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Plains | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $794 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,724 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.7% | — |
Who lives in North Plains
| People | North Plains | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in North Plains
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 56.9 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Plains since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 18, 1988.
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 North Plains itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Towns near North Plains
- Muir, MI5.1 mi · 646 people · home $143,100
- Lyons, MI5.3 mi · 3,513 people · home $171,400
- Pewamo, MI5.5 mi · 503 people · home $189,400
- Ronald, MI5.8 mi · 1,861 people · home $172,000
- Lyons, MI6.0 mi · 763 people · home $121,500
- Bloomer, MI6.3 mi · 6,352 people · home $194,400
- Lebanon, MI6.7 mi · 597 people · home $224,000
- Ionia, MI7.3 mi · 3,961 people · home $158,600
North Plains questions
Is North Plains, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Plains scores better for retirees than 39% of Michigan towns and quieter than 55%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in North Plains?
The median owner-occupied home in North Plains is valued at $184,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,724, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in North Plains?
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 56.9 inches of snow.
Does North Plains get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Plains since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1968. 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)