City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Saugatuck, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Saugatuck - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

751
Residents
$118,309
Median income
$619,400
Median home
$1,267
Median rent (state)

Saugatuck - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Saugatuck places in the 86th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

86th
percentile, household income
90th
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Saugatuck, MI

Saugatuck is a small town in Michigan, home to 751 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $118,309 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.0%. Saugatuck's housing stock carries a median value of $619,400, and the median resident age is 55.6 years. About 75.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 54.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 6 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 25% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,267 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 68.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

751 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$118,309 /yr

Poverty 15.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Saugatuck compare to other US cities?

Here's how Saugatuck stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 90% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Saugatuck against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Saugatuck's strongest outlier among Michigan cities

Among the 721 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Saugatuck ranks #13 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Saugatuck only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#32 of 718
96th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#249 of 727
65th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#13 of 721
98th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#164 of 727
77th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#16 of 727
98th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

86thIncome percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Saugatuck's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$619,400 10th percentile more affordable than 10% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Saugatuck $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Saugatuck, MI Saugatuck, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Saugatuck, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Saugatuck, MI median $118,309/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Saugatuck, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Saugatuck, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 75.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
751
Median Income
$118,309
Median Home Value
$619,400
Median Age
55.6
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Labor force participation
54.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
75.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
865 residents870 residents875 residents880 residents885 residents 202020212022202320242025 869 residents 882 residents ▲ +1.5%
Saugatuck's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 10
2021 6
2022 4
2023 11
2024 6

Permit volume decreased 25% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
52.6%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
9.1%
Work from Home
30.6%
Other
0.9%

Based on 350 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Saugatuck sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,267/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Hillman
750 people
Lakeport
746 people
Oscoda
757 people
Sanford
743 people
Metamora
761 people
Benzonia
735 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Saugatuck's 751 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

La Veta, CO
751 people
Appling, GA
751 people
North High Shoals, GA
751 people
Colo, IA
751 people
Welcome, LA
751 people
Myrtle, MS
751 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Saugatuck's $118,309 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tuxedo, NY
$118,317 median income
Glencoe, OH
$118,317 median income
Lake Stevens, WA
$118,290 median income
Saddlebrooke, MO
$118,333 median income
Surf City, NJ
$118,333 median income
Orland Hills, IL
$118,281 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Saugatuck, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Saugatuck, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 98.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Saugatuck compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Saugatuck (this city) 751 $118,309
Hillman 750 $41,000
Lakeport 746 $55,167
Oscoda 757 $37,188
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Saugatuck, MI?

What is the population of Saugatuck, MI? +

The population of Saugatuck, MI stands at 751 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Saugatuck, MI? +

Median annual household income in Saugatuck runs $118,309, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Saugatuck? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Saugatuck; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Saugatuck, MI? +

Saugatuck's median home value sits at $619,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.