The Town FilesChapin, Michigan
Township in Saginaw County · population 928 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,200
- Household income
- $60,952
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 57.1
Chapin is a township of 928 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $114,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 87% of Michigan towns, hipper than 78% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Chapin 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 Chapin is worth $114,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $60,952, which is more affordable than 96% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chapin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $856 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,952 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Chapin
| People | Chapin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chapin
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 28, 1986 about 4.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 12, 2021.
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 Chapin itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Chapin
- Elba, MI4.5 mi · 1,293 people · home $127,200
- Brady, MI5.8 mi · 2,142 people · home $161,700
- Elsie, MI6.0 mi · 930 people · home $114,000
- Fairfield, MI6.0 mi · 652 people · home $192,900
- Marion, MI6.7 mi · 759 people · home $125,800
- Ashley, MI7.1 mi · 508 people · home $109,500
- Rush, MI7.8 mi · 1,268 people · home $194,900
- Duplain, MI7.9 mi · 2,303 people · home $162,000
Chapin questions
Is Chapin, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chapin scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 87%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.1).
How much does a house cost in Chapin?
The median owner-occupied home in Chapin is valued at $114,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,952, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Chapin?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Chapin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chapin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 28, 1986. 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)