Ironwood vs Wakefield
Ironwood, Michigan versus Wakefield, Michigan: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wakefield edges out Ironwood on overall objective livability (56 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Ironwood | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $36k | $42k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $45k |
| Home Value | $68k | $62k |
| Monthly Rent | $491 | $569 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $576 |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.04% | 1.92% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.15% | 9.10% |
| Unemployment | 10.8% | 2.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 13°F | 13°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 67°F | 67°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.4 in | 37.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 185.5 in | 185.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 days | 237 days |
| Summer Humidity | 56°F | 56°F |
| Comfortable Days | 64 days | 64 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 45.2 | 42.5 |
| Air Quality | 41 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 44.3 | 47.6 |
| Violent Crime | 1255/100k | 0/100k |
| Property Crime | 1314/100k | 0/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 5,088 | 1,554 |
| Median Age | 51.1 | 45.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 1.32 |
| Political Leaning | R+23 | R+13 |
| White (%) | 94.6% | 93.1% |
| Black (%) | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.0% | 0.5% |
| Asian (%) | 0.7% | 0.9% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.7% | 5.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 25 min |
| Walkability | 8.7/20 | 7.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 183 mi | 193 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 79.8% | 84.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 115.96 | 70.79 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ironwood or Wakefield more affordable?
- Wakefield has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Ironwood's $46k and Wakefield's $45k. Median rent is $491 in Ironwood versus $569 in Wakefield.
- Is Ironwood or Wakefield safer?
- Wakefield has the lower violent crime rate. Ironwood reports 1255/100k and Wakefield reports 0/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Ironwood or Wakefield?
- The median home value is $68k in Ironwood and $62k in Wakefield, so homes are more affordable in Wakefield.