The Town FilesFort Gratiot, Michigan
Charter township in St. Clair County · population 11,242 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,200
- Household income
- $87,165
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 50.7
Fort Gratiot is a charter township of 11,242 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $241,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 84% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 83% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Fort Gratiot 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 Fort Gratiot is worth $241,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $87,165, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $989 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Gratiot | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $989 | $955 |
| Median household income | $87,165 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in Fort Gratiot
| People | Fort Gratiot | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Fort Gratiot
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Gratiot since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 96 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 24, 2011.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 42,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,695 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Fort Gratiot itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Fort Gratiot
3 public schools with 1,500 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Gratiot Middle School | 6-8 | 550 | 18.3 |
| Keewahdin Elementary School | PK-5 | 526 | 18.1 |
| Edison Elementary School | PK-5 | 424 | 17.7 |
Towns near Fort Gratiot
- Clyde, MI4.4 mi · 5,523 people · home $235,700
- Port Huron, MI4.5 mi · 28,983 people · home $149,300
- Port Huron, MI4.8 mi · 10,792 people · home $196,000
- Burtchville, MI5.2 mi · 4,077 people · home $162,000
- Kimball, MI7.7 mi · 9,609 people · home $197,500
- Marysville, MI9.5 mi · 9,997 people · home $208,600
- Worth, MI11.9 mi · 3,455 people · home $219,500
- Wales, MI12.7 mi · 3,180 people · home $273,700
Fort Gratiot questions
Is Fort Gratiot, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Gratiot scores better for retirees than 61% of Michigan towns and quieter than 20%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.7).
How much does a house cost in Fort Gratiot?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Gratiot is valued at $241,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,165, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $989 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Gratiot?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.9 inches of precipitation a year and 35.5 inches of snow.
Does Fort Gratiot get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Gratiot since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 8, 1953. 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)