Below Average CostSafer than AverageSault Ste. Marie Area Schools
Soo Michigan skyline · P199 / CC BY-SA 3.0Sault Ste. Marie, MI location · Notorious4life (talk) (Uploads) / CC02009-0618-Soo-RiverofHistoryM · Bobak Ha'Eri / CC BY 3.0Sault Ste Marie, Showing the United States Garrison in the Distance SAAM-1985.66.339 1 · George Catlin / CC0
Sault Ste. Marie is a small city of 13,409 in Michigan, with a median household income of $50,284
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sault Ste. Marie stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sault Ste. Marie is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sault Ste. Marie 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: 91.7
Sault Ste. Marie's overall cost of living index is 91.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sault Ste. Marie costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$114,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$790
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,284
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Sault Ste. Marie's violent crime rate is 405.7 per 100,000 residents
— 7% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
405.7 /100k
Property Crime
1104.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sault Ste. Marie is served primarily by Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
National Avg
School District
Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sault Ste. Marie sees average highs of 24.0°F in January
and 76.8°F in July,
with 34.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 120.1 inches of snow per year.
Sault Ste. Marie's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sault Ste. Marie roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $114,700 and median rent is $790/month.
Sault Ste. Marie's violent crime rate is 405.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1104.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sault Ste. Marie are operated by Sault Ste. Marie Area Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sault Ste. Marie, MI has a population of 13,409, a median household income of $50,284, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Sault Ste. Marie averages 24.0°F in January and 76.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.5 inches
with about 120.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sault Ste. Marie, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49783.
The population of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is 13,409 with a median age of 35.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sault Ste. Marie: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $114,700, median household income $50,284, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sault Ste. Marie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
