The Town FilesSaugatuck, Michigan
City in Allegan County · population 865 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $650,800
- Household income
- $121,178
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 53.9
Saugatuck is a city of 865 people in Allegan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $650,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Saugatuck 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 Saugatuck is worth $650,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $121,178, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $616 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saugatuck | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $650,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $616 | $955 |
| Median household income | $121,178 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.6% | — |
Who lives in Saugatuck
| People | Saugatuck | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 35.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 41.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Saugatuck
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 109.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saugatuck since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 0.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 12, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1975.
Severe weather in Allegan County since 1996
Allegan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegan County
Allegan County had 41,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,226 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Saugatuck itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Saugatuck
2 public schools with 455 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saugatuck High School | 9-12 | 258 | 15.2 |
| Saugatuck Middle School | 6-8 | 197 | 19.7 |
Towns near Saugatuck
- Douglas, MI1.6 mi · 1,378 people · home $426,400
- Saugatuck, MI2.7 mi · 3,443 people · home $422,600
- Laketown, MI4.6 mi · 5,928 people · home $399,000
- Fennville, MI6.8 mi · 1,745 people · home $150,400
- Manlius, MI7.1 mi · 3,312 people · home $282,600
- Fillmore, MI7.9 mi · 2,778 people · home $314,400
- Ganges, MI8.0 mi · 2,574 people · home $266,200
- Holland, MI9.1 mi · 34,378 people · home $252,200
Saugatuck questions
Is Saugatuck, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saugatuck scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 32.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Saugatuck?
The median owner-occupied home in Saugatuck is valued at $650,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,178, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $616 a month.
What is the weather like in Saugatuck?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 109.0 inches of snow.
Does Saugatuck get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saugatuck since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)