RANK #608 / 1001 NAT · #31 / 36 MI · POP 79,626
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
St. Johns, the county seat of Clinton County, Michigan, is known as the "Mint Capital of the World" and hosts an annual Mint Day Festival. Located in the heart of Michigan, Clinton County offers a small-town atmosphere while remaining accessible to larger urban areas. Commuting to nearby cities like Lansing is possible, with Clinton Transit providing demand-response public transportation. The county features numerous parks and green spaces, including Sleepy Hollow State Park, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, and horseback riding.
Life in Clinton County often appeals to families and those seeking a more relaxed pace. The public school districts in the county are generally well-regarded, with some high schools receiving national recognition. The local economy is supported by ongoing investments in infrastructure and clean energy initiatives, including projects focused on renewable energy sources and water system upgrades. These developments contribute to the county's economic landscape without relying on a single industry.
Clinton County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.2% YoY, population +0.3%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Clinton County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Mid-Michigan Pipeline Replacement
Consumers Energy
|
$550M | Completed |
|
Walker Road Solar
ESA Solar
|
$150M | Under Construction |
|
BINGHAM Solar Project
National Grid Renewables
|
$150M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 39/100, Clinton County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $88,210 combined with job growth of +0.7% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Clinton County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $259,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,092/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Clinton County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs +0.7%. Home values shifted +4.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 5.46% of Clinton County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.