The Town FilesSwartz Creek, Michigan
City in Genesee County · population 5,897 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,200
- Household income
- $71,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 46.2
Swartz Creek is a city of 5,897 people in Genesee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $174,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 94% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Swartz Creek 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 Swartz Creek is worth $174,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $71,571, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,247 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swartz Creek | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,247 | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,571 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Swartz Creek
| People | Swartz Creek | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Swartz Creek
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swartz Creek since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 116. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 119 deaths and 910 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 28, 2020.
Severe weather in Genesee County since 1996
Genesee County has been included in 14 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 |
| January 16, 2016 | Toxic Substances | EM-3375: Contaminated Water |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Genesee County
Genesee County had 133,787 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,798 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Swartz Creek itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Swartz Creek
8 public schools with 3,664 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swartz Creek High School | 9-12 | 1,028 | 20.6 |
| Swartz Creek Middle School | 6-8 | 754 | 17.1 |
| Morrish Elementary School | K-2 | 440 | 20.0 |
| Elms Road Elementary School | 3-5 | 408 | 19.4 |
| Syring Elementary School | PK-2 | 339 | 17.8 |
| Dieck Elementary School | 2-5 | 305 | 17.9 |
| Rankin Elementary School | K-5 | 287 | 15.1 |
| Swartz Creek Virtual Learning Center | PK-12 | 103 | 20.6 |
Towns near Swartz Creek
- Flint, MI3.8 mi · 31,447 people · home $158,600
- Clayton, MI3.9 mi · 7,460 people · home $231,200
- Mundy, MI4.9 mi · 15,281 people · home $214,200
- Gaines, MI5.2 mi · 6,664 people · home $238,300
- Flushing, MI6.9 mi · 8,411 people · home $204,500
- Flint, MI7.5 mi · 81,252 people · home $53,500
- Vernon, MI8.7 mi · 4,273 people · home $169,400
- Mount Morris, MI9.3 mi · 20,024 people · home $95,300
Swartz Creek questions
Is Swartz Creek, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swartz Creek scores better for retirees than 43% of Michigan towns and quieter than 13%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Swartz Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Swartz Creek is valued at $174,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,571, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,247 a month.
What is the weather like in Swartz Creek?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Swartz Creek get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swartz Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 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)