The Town FilesBirch Run, Michigan
Township in Saginaw County · population 5,888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,700
- Household income
- $82,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 46.6
Birch Run is a township of 5,888 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $216,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 99% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 96% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Birch Run ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Birch Run is worth $216,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $82,375, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $999 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birch Run | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $999 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,375 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Birch Run
| People | Birch Run | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Birch Run
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birch Run since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 2, 1997 about 6.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 17, 2013.
Severe weather in Saginaw County since 1996
Saginaw County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Saginaw County
Saginaw County had 79,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,049 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Birch Run itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Birch Run
- Frankenmuth, MI4.9 mi · 4,987 people · home $300,500
- Taymouth, MI5.3 mi · 4,065 people · home $208,000
- Vienna, MI5.8 mi · 13,301 people · home $199,300
- Arbela, MI6.1 mi · 2,808 people · home $150,400
- Clio, MI6.1 mi · 2,525 people · home $138,200
- Montrose, MI8.0 mi · 6,005 people · home $186,300
- Bridgeport, MI8.2 mi · 10,104 people · home $109,900
- Thetford, MI9.1 mi · 6,640 people · home $203,900
Birch Run questions
Is Birch Run, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birch Run scores better for retirees than 7% of Michigan towns and quieter than 21%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Birch Run?
The median owner-occupied home in Birch Run is valued at $216,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,375, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $999 a month.
What is the weather like in Birch Run?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.6 inches of snow.
Does Birch Run get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birch Run since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 2, 1997. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)