The Town FilesSaline, Michigan
City in Washtenaw County · population 8,948 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $341,300
- Household income
- $88,346
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 46.7
Saline is a city of 8,948 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $341,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 97% of Michigan towns.
How Saline 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 Saline is worth $341,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $88,346, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,054 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saline | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $341,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,054 | $955 |
| Median household income | $88,346 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Saline
| People | Saline | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Saline
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saline since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 10.0 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Washtenaw County since 1996
Washtenaw County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County had 217,948 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Saline itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Saline
9 public schools with 4,669 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline High School | 9-12 | 1,562 | 18.6 |
| Saline Middle School | 6-8 | 1,081 | 17.4 |
| Heritage School | 4-5 | 631 | 17.1 |
| Woodland Meadows Elementary School | K-3 | 470 | 18.1 |
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary School | K-3 | 448 | 14.9 |
| Harvest Elementary School | K-3 | 430 | 15.4 |
| Saline Alternative High School | 9-12 | 29 | 14.5 |
| Young Adult Program | 15-15 | 17 | 4.3 |
| Center for Forensic Psychiatry | 15-15 | 1 | — |
Towns near Saline
- Pittsfield, MI3.9 mi · 39,147 people · home $401,200
- York, MI4.3 mi · 9,108 people · home $436,500
- Lodi, MI4.9 mi · 6,417 people · home $470,700
- Ann Arbor, MI7.5 mi · 123,851 people · home $453,400
- Milan, MI7.9 mi · 6,079 people · home $247,100
- Scio, MI9.1 mi · 17,552 people · home $519,100
- Ypsilanti, MI9.3 mi · 20,648 people · home $232,700
- Ypsilanti, MI9.5 mi · 55,670 people · home $233,900
Saline questions
Is Saline, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saline scores better for retirees than 86% of Michigan towns and quieter than 14%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Saline?
The median owner-occupied home in Saline is valued at $341,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,346, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,054 a month.
What is the weather like in Saline?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 14.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 59.3 inches of snow.
Does Saline get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saline since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)