Cost to Own
United States › Michigan › St. Clair County › St. Clair Population 5,581 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $801 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full St. Clair County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in St. Clair, Michigan

A $242,000 home here costs

$2,121

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $91,000 a year.

P&I 62%Tax 14%Insurance 4%Utilities 10%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,319. The real number is $801 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare St. Clair County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

St. Clair median: $241,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MI average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $193,600 borrowed $1,319
Property tax1.483% effective rate for St. Clair itself $299
Homeowners insuranceMichigan averages $993/yr (NAIC), or 0.448% of home value $90
Electricity22.99ยข/kWh, Michigan residential average, EIA $142
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $202
Total monthly $2,121

St. Clair against St. Clair County and Michigan

MeasureSt. ClairSt. Clair County
Median home value$241,700$213,900
Median property tax$3,585$2,493
Effective tax rate1.483%1.165%
Median gross rent$1,033$999
Population5,581160,089

The weather behind that power bill

St. Clair sits in St. Clair County, which averages a high of 83.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.1°F in its coldest, with 35.9" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 649 cooling and 6,785 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for St. Clair County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in St. Clair County

Full St. Clair County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan

Talk to someone who works this market

These are St. Clair averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works St. Clair every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in St. Clair I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in St. Clair?

A $242,000 home in St. Clair, Michigan costs approximately $2,121 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,319 principal and interest, $299 property tax, $90 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $202 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in St. Clair?

St. Clair has an effective property tax rate of 1.483%, based on a median home value of $241,700 and median real estate taxes of $3,585. That is higher than the St. Clair County average of 1.165%.

What is the average home price in St. Clair?

The median owner-occupied home value in St. Clair, Michigan is $241,700, against $213,900 across St. Clair County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in St. Clair?

Median gross rent in St. Clair is $1,033 a month, against $2,121 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in St. Clair?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in St. Clair, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $91,000 a year. That covers the full $2,121 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for St. Clair, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology