The Town FilesBelding, Michigan
City in Ionia County · population 5,938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,800
- Household income
- $60,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.0
Belding is a city of 5,938 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $163,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 90% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Belding 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 Belding is worth $163,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,373, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belding | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $668 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,373 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Belding
| People | Belding | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Belding
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belding since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 7.5 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 12 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 11, 1968.
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 Belding itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Belding
4 public schools with 1,605 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belding High School | 9-12 | 508 | 20.3 |
| Ellis Elementary School | K-2 | 387 | 14.3 |
| Belding Middle School | 6-8 | 362 | 17.2 |
| Woodview Elementary School | 3-5 | 348 | 12.4 |
Towns near Belding
- Eureka, MI4.5 mi · 4,211 people · home $236,200
- Orleans, MI5.2 mi · 2,664 people · home $175,700
- Greenville, MI5.8 mi · 8,816 people · home $184,200
- Grattan, MI6.7 mi · 3,809 people · home $355,800
- Oakfield, MI8.4 mi · 6,107 people · home $347,200
- Easton, MI8.5 mi · 3,058 people · home $192,000
- Montcalm, MI10.3 mi · 3,394 people · home $210,600
- Vergennes, MI10.8 mi · 4,741 people · home $392,300
Belding questions
Is Belding, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belding scores better for retirees than 15% of Michigan towns and quieter than 8%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Belding?
The median owner-occupied home in Belding is valued at $163,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,373, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in Belding?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 72.9 inches of snow.
Does Belding get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belding 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)