What are the schools like in St. Clair, MI?

St. Clair is served primarily by East China School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in St. Clair?

The median household income in St. Clair, MI is $71,771 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in St. Clair, MI?

St. Clair has an average high temperature of 30.9°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.5 inches.

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

Q: Is St. Clair, MI affordable or expensive?

St. Clair's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means St. Clair is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $198,700 and the median rent is $1,090 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in St. Clair, MI?

St. Clair has a violent crime rate of 66.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 448.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is St. Clair, MI a Good Place to Live?

St. Clair is a small town of 5,496 in Michigan, with a median household income of $71,771 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: St. Clair stands out for 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 St. Clair is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Clair 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: 98.0

St. Clair's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in St. Clair costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	St. Clair, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$198,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,090	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,771	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

St. Clair's violent crime rate is 66.5 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.5 /100k

Property Crime

448.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

St. Clair is served primarily by East China School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	St. Clair, MI	National Avg
School District	East China School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Clair sees average highs of 30.9°F in January and 81.3°F in July, with 34.9 inches of annual precipitation and 35.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	St. Clair, MI
Average High — January	30.9°F
Average High — July	81.3°F
Annual Precipitation	34.9"
Annual Snowfall	35.5"

Demographics

Metric	St. Clair, MI	National Avg
Population	5,496	—
Median Age	41.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.4%	22.2%
65 and over	16.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Marysville, MI 6 mi Marine City, MI 8 mi Port Huron, MI 12 mi Richmond, MI 13 mi Pearl Beach, MI 14 mi

ZIP Codes in St. Clair

St. Clair, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48079

St. Clair vs Other Cities

St. Clair, MI vs Marysville, MI St. Clair, MI vs Marine City, MI St. Clair, MI vs Port Huron, MI St. Clair, MI vs Richmond, MI St. Clair, MI vs Pearl Beach, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Clair, MI affordable or expensive?

St. Clair's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes St. Clair roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $198,700 and median rent is $1,090/month.

What is the crime rate in St. Clair, MI?

St. Clair's violent crime rate is 66.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 448.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in St. Clair?

Public schools in St. Clair are operated by East China School District. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is St. Clair, MI a good place to live?

St. Clair, MI has a population of 5,496, a median household income of $71,771, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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 St. Clair?

St. Clair averages 30.9°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.9 inches with about 35.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in St. Clair?

St. Clair, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48079.

What is the population of St. Clair?

The population of St. Clair, Michigan is 5,496 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in St. Clair?

Key numbers for living in St. Clair: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $198,700, median household income $71,771, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Clair side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.