C+

Saint Clair, MI

Source:

Affordability Score: 61/100

Population: 12,304 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Saint Clair, MI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 12,304 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (61/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $79,891, median home value of $293,000, median rent of $1,139 per month, and 26.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,411 per month (studio $1,009, 1BR $1,122, 3BR $1,724, 4BR $1,868). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $8,441 per year, consuming 11% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Saint Clair, MI include rent. Unemployment currently reads 2.8% and poverty 6.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$79,891
Median household income
Education D
26.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.7x
Home value $293,000 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,411/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$8,441/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$79,891
▲ 29% vs national
Per Capita Income
$42,948
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Poverty Rate
6.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$293,000
▲ 7% vs national
Median Rent
$1,139/mo
Owner Occupied
82.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,411/mo
▲ 18% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,009
1BR
$1,122
2BR
$1,411
3BR
$1,724
4BR
$1,868

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
26.5%
▼ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
55.4%
Median Age
45.3
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$8,441/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,441/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,490/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,660/yr

What This Means

Saint Clair, MI receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 12,304. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Saint Clair, MI affordable?
Saint Clair, MI receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $79,891. Median home value is $293,000.
What is the cost of living in Saint Clair?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,139/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,411/mo. Infant childcare $8,441/yr. Median home value $293,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →