St. Clair County, Michigan: commercial real estate data.
St. Clair County, Michigan had an estimated 160,308 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 160,390, across 721 square miles. County output reached $7.42 bn in 2024, 3,080 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 181 7(a) approvals worth $46.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
St. Clair County
How many people live in St. Clair County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024160,221
- Households67,816
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$71,270
- Median age44.5
- Median gross rent$1,029 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$224,600
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over115,640
- Population under 1832,478
- Share under 1820.3 percent
- Population 65 and over32,649
- Share 65 and over20.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6495,094
- Civilian labor force80,287
- Unemployment rate5.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.9 percent
- Rank by population among Michigan counties13th of 83
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included434th of 3,222
St. Clair County is the 13th largest of 83 Michigan counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 20.4 percent against 20.3 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
St. Clair County
Is St. Clair County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024160,308
- Census 2020 base population160,390
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.05 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202428
- Births, 20241,422
- Deaths, 20241,881
- Natural change, 2024-459
- Net domestic migration, 2024366
- Net international migration, 2024128
- Total net migration, 2024494
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,058
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1850th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.05 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
St. Clair County
Where are people moving to St. Clair County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,236
- People arriving, from those returns5,604
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,103
- Net household movement133
- Adjusted gross income arriving$196.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$21.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$60,731
- Average income of a leaving household$56,363
- Largest single originMacomb County (1,355 households)
- Largest single destinationMacomb County (963 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macomb County | 1,355 | 2,428 | $97.6 m |
| Oakland County | 242 | 382 | $16.1 m |
| Sanilac County | 235 | 372 | $9.7 m |
| Wayne County | 179 | 322 | $16.1 m |
| Lapeer County | 95 | 167 | $5.3 m |
| Genesee County | 59 | 99 | $2.2 m |
| Kent County | 29 | 33 | $1.0 m |
| Washtenaw County | 27 | 40 | $1.6 m |
Households arriving report $4,368 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Macomb County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
St. Clair County
What is the St. Clair County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.42 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.26 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.2 percent
- GDP change over five years30.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Michigan areas BEA publishes20th of 83
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes561st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$46,295
Output grew 2.2 percent in the latest year and 30.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
St. Clair County
Employment by industry in St. Clair County
- Covered employment, annual average42,283
- Establishments reporting3,248
- Average annual pay$55,695
- Average weekly wage$1,071
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,082
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,339
- Manufacturing, employment6,768
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$65,118
- Retail trade, employment5,342
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,631
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,028
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,463
- Construction, employment2,641
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,487
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,082 | 482 | $53,339 |
| Manufacturing | 6,768 | 217 | $65,118 |
| Retail trade | 5,342 | 403 | $40,631 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,028 | 271 | $19,463 |
| Construction | 2,641 | 442 | $76,649 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,487 | 222 | $68,097 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,301 | 291 | $38,237 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 916 | 104 | $67,369 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,082 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
St. Clair County
How many businesses are in St. Clair County?
- Establishments, all industries3,080
- Employment at those establishments41,206
- Annual payroll$2.08 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Clair County
Building permits in St. Clair County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024235
- Declared construction value permitted$70.8 m
- Single family units authorized235
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$301,128
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.5
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
St. Clair County
SBA loans in St. Clair County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded181
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$46.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$254,039
- Median 7(a) approval$80,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$750,000
- Largest single approval$4,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,350
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active27
- Distinct industries receiving approvals82
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms18
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter154
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals5.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (10)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (126)
- 504 approvals recorded49
- 504 gross approval dollars$23.1 m
- Average 504 approval$472,204
- Median 504 approval$281,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval5.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.4
- Most active CDCMichigan Certified Development Corporation (45)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$69.1 m
The average approval of $254,039 sits well above the median of $80,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Clair County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in St. Clair County
Do SBA loans in St. Clair County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded43
- Paid in full43
- Charged off0
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans0.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure115
- Status: Paid in full43
- Status: Cancelled16
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed7
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 0.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Clair County
SBA lending by place in St. Clair County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending38
- Port Huron, approvals34
- St. Clair, approvals25
- Marine City, approvals15
- Casco, approvals12
- Fort Gratiot, approvals12
- Algonac, approvals9
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Port Huron | 34 | $13,344,000 |
| St. Clair | 25 | $9,968,800 |
| Marine City | 15 | $3,747,400 |
| Casco | 12 | $4,617,600 |
| Fort Gratiot | 12 | $1,631,900 |
| Algonac | 9 | $1,512,100 |
| Kimball | 9 | $818,000 |
| Kenockee | 5 | $1,077,000 |
| 30 other borrower cities | 60 | $9,264,300 |
Port Huron accounts for 34 approvals against 25 in St. Clair. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
St. Clair County
How large is St. Clair County?
- Land area721 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Michigan counties24th of 83
- Width, east to west29.4 mi
- Height, north to south44.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land222
- Establishments per square mile4.27
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
St. Clair County
Flood risk in St. Clair County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book29
- Of those, participating in the NFIP26
- NFIP participation rate89.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in St. Clair County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places St. Clair County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 89.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a St. Clair County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a St. Clair County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024160,221
- Households67,816
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$71,270
- Median age44.5
Common questions
St. Clair County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in St. Clair County, Michigan?
The Census Bureau estimates 160,308 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 160,221, in 67,816 households, ranking 13th of 83 Michigan counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is St. Clair County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.05 percent since the 2020 census base of 160,390, to 160,308 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,422 births against 1,881 deaths, with net migration of 494. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in St. Clair County?
$71,270. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,600, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,029 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in St. Clair County?
3,080 establishments, employing 41,206 people with an annual payroll of $2.08 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in St. Clair County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,082 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 42,283 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,695, or $1,071 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in St. Clair County?
181 7(a) approvals totaling $46.0 m since FY2020, across 27 lenders, with a median approval of $80,000, plus 49 504 approvals worth $23.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in St. Clair County get paid back?
Of the 43 loans that have reached a final outcome, 43 were paid in full and 0 charged off, a charge-off rate of 0.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in St. Clair County?
235 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $70.8 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for St. Clair County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to St. Clair County come from?
The largest single origin is Macomb County, with 1,355 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,731 against $56,363 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for St. Clair County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for St. Clair County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
St. Clair County
Cities and places in St. Clair.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in St. Clair County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Huron | city | 28,620 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Marysville | city | 9,925 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Richmond | city | 5,855 | None recorded | 8.5 percent here, 91.5 percent Macomb County |
| St. Clair | city | 5,585 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| Pearl Beach | CDP | 4,506 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Algonac | city | 4,139 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Marine City | city | 4,028 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Yale | city | 2,129 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Capac | village | 1,970 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Memphis | city | 1,064 | 2 | 44.7 percent here, 55.3 percent Macomb County |
| Lakeport | CDP | 742 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ruby | CDP | 714 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Emmett | village | 207 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
A further 90 of the county's 181 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in St. Clair County, the largest being Casco (12), Fort Gratiot (12), Kimball (9). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby