The Town FilesThomas, Michigan
Township in Saginaw County · population 11,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,900
- Household income
- $79,710
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 49.7
Thomas is a township of 11,931 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $191,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 82% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 82% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Thomas 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 Thomas is worth $191,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $79,710, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 87.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thomas | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $934 | $955 |
| Median household income | $79,710 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Thomas
| People | Thomas | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Thomas
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomas since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 15, 1982 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Saginaw County since 1996
Saginaw County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Saginaw County
Saginaw County had 79,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,049 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Thomas itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Thomas
- Shields, MI2.4 mi · 7,035 people · home $174,500
- Saginaw, MI4.8 mi · 41,679 people · home $182,000
- Freeland, MI5.5 mi · 7,630 people · home $265,900
- Tittabawassee, MI5.8 mi · 10,606 people · home $276,000
- Richland, MI6.2 mi · 3,955 people · home $215,300
- Kochville, MI8.1 mi · 4,911 people · home $156,800
- Saginaw, MI8.2 mi · 44,202 people · home $60,000
- Ingersoll, MI8.4 mi · 2,775 people · home $190,000
Thomas questions
Is Thomas, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thomas scores better for retirees than 68% of Michigan towns and quieter than 40%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Thomas?
The median owner-occupied home in Thomas is valued at $191,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,710, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Thomas?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 49.0 inches of snow.
Does Thomas get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thomas since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 15, 1982. 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)