RANK #237 / 1001 NAT · #15 / 36 MI · POP 160,221
1YR FORECAST: +2.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
St. Clair County, Michigan, is defined by its abundant freshwater resources, often called the "Blue Water Area." Located northeast of Detroit, the county seat, Port Huron, sits at the northern end of the St. Clair River where it meets Lake Huron. The St. Clair River forms an international border with Ontario, Canada. Commuting to Detroit is common, and local public transit, Blue Water Area Transit, serves Port Huron and surrounding townships. The community offers a blend of charming downtowns and rural landscapes, with extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, and freighter-watching along its 50 miles of waterfront.
Life in St. Clair County offers a mix of small-town environments and access to natural amenities. The public schools are above average, with options including traditional districts and career-focused technical education at St. Clair County TEC. The economy is seeing recent developments, including a $44.5 million investment across two companies in Midland and St. Clair counties, creating over 100 jobs in advanced manufacturing for EV materials and food-grade packaging. The Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County also secured a grant to build a business center in Port Huron, supporting small businesses and acting as a hub for technology companies.
St. Clair County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +5.0% matches the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.8x — 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: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, St. Clair County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $71,270 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MI.
Housing in St. Clair County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $224,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,029/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
St. Clair County's job market is contracting (-1.3% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.1% change). Home values are +5.0% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.3% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Clair County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.0% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in St. Clair County is now valued at $224,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.