The Town FilesJames, Michigan
Township in Saginaw County · population 1,792 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,100
- Household income
- $70,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 50.5
James is a township of 1,792 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $165,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 74% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 73% of Michigan towns.
How James 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 James is worth $165,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $70,000, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | James | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $910 | $955 |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in James
| People | James | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in James
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of James since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 15, 1982 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on September 2, 1984.
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 James itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Towns near James
- Swan Creek, MI3.7 mi · 2,416 people · home $190,800
- Spaulding, MI3.8 mi · 1,975 people · home $117,600
- Shields, MI4.1 mi · 7,035 people · home $174,500
- Thomas, MI5.9 mi · 11,931 people · home $191,900
- Saginaw, MI6.0 mi · 41,679 people · home $182,000
- Saginaw, MI6.1 mi · 44,202 people · home $60,000
- St. Charles, MI6.6 mi · 1,992 people · home $118,500
- Albee, MI7.4 mi · 2,046 people · home $160,200
James questions
Is James, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, James scores better for retirees than 10% of Michigan towns and quieter than 74%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in James?
The median owner-occupied home in James is valued at $165,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,000, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in James?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.7 inches of snow.
Does James get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of James since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 15, 1982. 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)