The Town FilesPearl Beach, Michigan
Community in St. Clair County · population 4,698 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,700
- Household income
- $83,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 53.7
Pearl Beach is a community of 4,698 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $301,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 71% of Michigan towns.
How Pearl Beach 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 Pearl Beach is worth $301,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $83,208, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,054 a month. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pearl Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,208 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Pearl Beach
| People | Pearl Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 37.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Pearl Beach
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 34.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearl Beach since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 8, 1964 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 227 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 2, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 14, 2000.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 42,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,695 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Pearl Beach itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Pearl Beach
- Clay, MI2.3 mi · 8,446 people · home $307,600
- Algonac, MI2.8 mi · 4,196 people · home $199,500
- Cottrellville, MI4.4 mi · 3,406 people · home $293,900
- Ira, MI5.8 mi · 4,967 people · home $244,200
- Marine City, MI7.1 mi · 4,079 people · home $159,800
- New Baltimore, MI8.5 mi · 12,117 people · home $323,200
- China, MI9.8 mi · 3,509 people · home $322,600
- Casco, MI10.1 mi · 3,990 people · home $303,200
Pearl Beach questions
Is Pearl Beach, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pearl Beach scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 49%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.7).
How much does a house cost in Pearl Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Pearl Beach is valued at $301,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,208, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,054 a month.
What is the weather like in Pearl Beach?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Pearl Beach get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearl Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 8, 1964. 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)