The Town FilesMarine City, Michigan
City in St. Clair County · population 4,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,800
- Household income
- $67,683
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 51.1
Marine City is a city of 4,079 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $159,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Marine City 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 Marine City is worth $159,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $67,683, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $944 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marine City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $944 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,683 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Marine City
| People | Marine City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Marine City
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 34.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marine City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 2, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 14, 2000.
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 Marine City itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Marine City
3 public schools with 1,143 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine City High School | 9-12 | 456 | 15.7 |
| Belle River Elementary School | K-5 | 357 | 14.3 |
| Marine City Middle School | 6-8 | 330 | 18.3 |
Towns near Marine City
- Cottrellville, MI3.3 mi · 3,406 people · home $293,900
- East China, MI3.5 mi · 3,704 people · home $275,900
- China, MI5.0 mi · 3,509 people · home $322,600
- Algonac, MI6.6 mi · 4,196 people · home $199,500
- Pearl Beach, MI7.1 mi · 4,698 people · home $301,700
- St. Clair, MI7.8 mi · 5,464 people · home $223,200
- Ira, MI8.0 mi · 4,967 people · home $244,200
- Casco, MI9.0 mi · 3,990 people · home $303,200
Marine City questions
Is Marine City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marine City scores better for retirees than 50% of Michigan towns and quieter than 22%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Marine City?
The median owner-occupied home in Marine City is valued at $159,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,683, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $944 a month.
What is the weather like in Marine City?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does Marine City get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marine City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. 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)