What are the schools like in Saginaw, MI?

Saginaw is served primarily by Saginaw School District of the City of. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

What is the median household income in Saginaw?

The median household income in Saginaw, MI is $35,521 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.7%.

What is the weather like in Saginaw, MI?

Saginaw has an average high temperature of 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.7 inches.

Saginaw, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Saginaw, MI affordable or expensive?

Saginaw's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Saginaw is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $51,700 and the median rent is $868 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Saginaw, MI?

Saginaw has a violent crime rate of 2201.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1959.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Saginaw, MI a Good Place to Live?

Saginaw is a small city of 44,316 in Michigan, with a median household income of $35,521 and a 11.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Saginaw stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Saginaw is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Saginaw city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.5

Saginaw's overall cost of living index is 88.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Saginaw costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Saginaw, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$51,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$868	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,521	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Saginaw's violent crime rate is 2201.5 per 100,000 residents — 479% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

2201.5 /100k

Property Crime

1959.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Saginaw is served primarily by Saginaw School District of the City of. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Saginaw, MI	National Avg
School District	Saginaw School District of the City of	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Saginaw sees average highs of 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July, with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation and 40.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Saginaw, MI
Average High — January	30.0°F
Average High — July	83.0°F
Annual Precipitation	34.0"
Annual Snowfall	40.7"

Demographics

Metric	Saginaw, MI	National Avg
Population	44,316	—
Median Age	34.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	40.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	45.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	13.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Buena Vista, MI 2 mi Zilwaukee, MI 5 mi Bridgeport, MI 5 mi Robin Glen-Indiantown, MI 6 mi Shields, MI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Saginaw

Saginaw, MI is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

48601 48602 48607 48638

Saginaw vs Other Cities

Saginaw, MI vs Buena Vista, MI Saginaw, MI vs Zilwaukee, MI Saginaw, MI vs Bridgeport, MI Saginaw, MI vs Robin Glen-Indiantown, MI Saginaw, MI vs Shields, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saginaw, MI affordable or expensive?

Saginaw's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Saginaw roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $51,700 and median rent is $868/month.

What is the crime rate in Saginaw, MI?

Saginaw's violent crime rate is 2201.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1959.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Saginaw?

Public schools in Saginaw are operated by Saginaw School District of the City of. The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Saginaw, MI a good place to live?

Saginaw, MI has a population of 44,316, a median household income of $35,521, and an unemployment rate of 11.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Saginaw?

Saginaw averages 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches with about 40.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Saginaw?

Saginaw, MI is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 48601, 48602, 48607, 48638.

What is the population of Saginaw?

The population of Saginaw, Michigan is 44,316 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Saginaw?

Key numbers for living in Saginaw: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $51,700, median household income $35,521, crime index 385 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Saginaw side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.