The Town FilesSouthgate, Michigan
City in Wayne County · population 30,014 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,600
- Household income
- $66,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.2
Southgate is a city of 30,014 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $173,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns, better transit than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Southgate 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 Southgate is worth $173,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $66,118, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,120 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Southgate | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,120 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,118 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Southgate
| People | Southgate | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Southgate
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southgate since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 12, 1956 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 725,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,411 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Southgate itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Southgate
10 public schools with 4,280 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Anderson High School | 9-12 | 986 | 20.1 |
| Creative Montessori Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 737 | 19.4 |
| Davidson Middle School | 6-8 | 657 | 19.9 |
| Asher School | 9-12 | 363 | 30.3 |
| Grogan Elementary School | PK-5 | 343 | 14.3 |
| Allen Elementary School | PK-5 | 342 | 17.1 |
| Fordline Elementary School | PK-5 | 305 | 16.1 |
| Shelters Elementary School | PK-5 | 292 | 13.3 |
| North Pointe Elementary | K-5 | 141 | 10.8 |
| Beacon Day Treatment Center | K-12 | 114 | 5.0 |
Towns near Southgate
- Riverview, MI2.2 mi · 12,490 people · home $215,100
- Wyandotte, MI2.5 mi · 25,058 people · home $166,900
- Lincoln Park, MI2.9 mi · 40,245 people · home $131,000
- Taylor, MI3.5 mi · 63,409 people · home $152,600
- Allen Park, MI3.8 mi · 28,638 people · home $183,700
- Trenton, MI4.5 mi · 18,544 people · home $210,600
- Ecorse, MI4.6 mi · 9,305 people · home $65,400
- Woodhaven, MI5.1 mi · 12,941 people · home $231,800
Southgate questions
Is Southgate, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Southgate scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Southgate?
The median owner-occupied home in Southgate is valued at $173,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,118, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,120 a month.
What is the weather like in Southgate?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 53.5 inches of snow.
Does Southgate get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Southgate since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 12, 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)