St. Clair Shores is a mid-sized city of 58,656 in Michigan, with a median household income of $71,481
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Clair Shores stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Clair Shores is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. Clair Shores 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 Shores's overall cost of living index is 98.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Clair Shores costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Clair Shores, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$181,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,135
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,481
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
St. Clair Shores's violent crime rate is 185.5 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
185.5 /100k
Property Crime
1065.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Clair Shores is served primarily by South Lake Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Clair Shores, MI
National Avg
School District
South Lake Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Clair Shores sees average highs of 31.5°F in January
and 82.0°F in July,
with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.9 inches of snow per year.
St. Clair Shores's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Clair Shores roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $181,300 and median rent is $1,135/month.
St. Clair Shores's violent crime rate is 185.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1065.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Clair Shores are operated by South Lake Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Clair Shores, MI has a population of 58,656, a median household income of $71,481, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
St. Clair Shores averages 31.5°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches
with about 27.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Clair Shores, MI is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 48080, 48081, 48082, 48045, 48035.
The population of St. Clair Shores, Michigan is 58,656 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Clair Shores: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $181,300, median household income $71,481, crime index 50 (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 Shores side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
