The Town FilesSt. Clair, Michigan
City in St. Clair County · population 5,464 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,200
- Household income
- $69,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.0
St. Clair is a city of 5,464 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $223,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns.
How St. Clair 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 St. Clair is worth $223,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $69,688, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,113 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Clair | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,113 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in St. Clair
| People | St. Clair | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in St. Clair
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of St. Clair since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 21, 1953 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 68 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 1953.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 2023.
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 St. Clair itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in St. Clair
3 public schools with 1,735 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Clair High School | 9-12 | 753 | 19.3 |
| St Clair Middle School | 5-8 | 632 | 17.1 |
| Gearing Elementary School | PK-4 | 350 | 14.6 |
Towns near St. Clair
- St. Clair, MI3.9 mi · 7,085 people · home $334,600
- East China, MI4.3 mi · 3,704 people · home $275,900
- China, MI5.1 mi · 3,509 people · home $322,600
- Marysville, MI5.7 mi · 9,997 people · home $208,600
- Marine City, MI7.8 mi · 4,079 people · home $159,800
- Kimball, MI9.2 mi · 9,609 people · home $197,500
- Casco, MI9.8 mi · 3,990 people · home $303,200
- Cottrellville, MI9.8 mi · 3,406 people · home $293,900
St. Clair questions
Is St. Clair, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Clair scores better for retirees than 46% of Michigan towns and quieter than 10%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in St. Clair?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Clair is valued at $223,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,688, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,113 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Clair?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does St. Clair get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of St. Clair since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 21, 1953. 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)