The Town FilesJenison, Michigan
Community in Ottawa County · population 16,640 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,600
- Household income
- $89,593
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 37.7
Jenison is a community of 16,640 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $281,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Jenison 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 Jenison is worth $281,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $89,593, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $2,306 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jenison | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $2,306 | $955 |
| Median household income | $89,593 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Jenison
| People | Jenison | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Jenison
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jenison since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 0.5 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 23 deaths and 513 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Jenison itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Jenison
9 public schools with 4,587 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenison High School | 9-12 | 1,470 | 19.1 |
| Jenison Junior High School | 7-8 | 769 | 17.1 |
| Bauerwood School | K-6 | 503 | 17.3 |
| Rosewood School | K-6 | 483 | 16.7 |
| Sandy Hill School | K-6 | 422 | 13.2 |
| Bursley School | K-6 | 402 | 11.5 |
| Pinewood School | K-6 | 335 | 14.0 |
| Jenison Innovation Academy | 6-12 | 150 | 15.0 |
| JIA Elementary | K-5 | 53 | 10.6 |
Towns near Jenison
- Georgetown, MI0.9 mi · 54,091 people · home $336,400
- Hudsonville, MI3.2 mi · 7,629 people · home $285,700
- Grandville, MI3.8 mi · 16,083 people · home $271,300
- Tallmadge, MI6.0 mi · 8,802 people · home $366,100
- Wyoming, MI6.2 mi · 76,501 people · home $225,200
- Jamestown, MI6.7 mi · 9,630 people · home $445,400
- Blendon, MI7.2 mi · 7,081 people · home $395,600
- Walker, MI7.5 mi · 25,132 people · home $295,200
Jenison questions
Is Jenison, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jenison scores better for retirees than 30% of Michigan towns and quieter than 11%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Jenison?
The median owner-occupied home in Jenison is valued at $281,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,593, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $2,306 a month.
What is the weather like in Jenison?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 71.1 inches of snow.
Does Jenison get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jenison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)