Ruby, Michigan
Community in St. Clair County · population 852 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,800
- Household income
- $69,077
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 32.2
Ruby is a community of 852 people in St. Clair County, Michigan. The median home is worth $223,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 86% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Ruby 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 Ruby is worth $223,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $69,077, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,105 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ruby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,105 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,077 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ruby
| People | Ruby | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ruby
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 39.8 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
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruby since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 7.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 97 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2026.
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 Ruby itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Ruby
- Clyde, MI2.1 mi · 5,523 people · home $235,700
- Kenockee, MI4.1 mi · 2,405 people · home $232,200
- Grant, MI6.0 mi · 1,829 people · home $249,000
- Kimball, MI6.3 mi · 9,609 people · home $197,500
- Fort Gratiot, MI6.5 mi · 11,242 people · home $241,200
- Greenwood, MI7.1 mi · 1,490 people · home $261,100
- Wales, MI7.4 mi · 3,180 people · home $273,700
- Burtchville, MI7.6 mi · 4,077 people · home $162,000
Ruby questions
Is Ruby, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ruby scores better for retirees than 84% of Michigan towns and quieter than 55%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Ruby?
The median owner-occupied home in Ruby is valued at $223,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,077, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,105 a month.
What is the weather like in Ruby?
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 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Ruby get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruby 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)