The Town FilesSturgis, Michigan
City in St. Joseph County · population 11,082 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $152,600
- Household income
- $62,710
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 34.1
Sturgis is a city of 11,082 people in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The median home is worth $152,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Sturgis 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 Sturgis is worth $152,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $62,710, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sturgis | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $826 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,710 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Sturgis
| People | Sturgis | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Sturgis
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgis since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.9 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 101 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 6, 2004.
Severe weather in St. Joseph County since 1996
St. Joseph County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County had 21,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Sturgis itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Sturgis
7 public schools with 3,042 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgis High School | 9-12 | 973 | 20.3 |
| Eastwood School | 3-5 | 643 | 18.9 |
| Sturgis Middle School | 6-8 | 600 | 18.8 |
| Wall School | K-2 | 317 | 15.9 |
| Nottawa Community School | PK-8 | 192 | 17.5 |
| Congress School | K-2 | 170 | 18.9 |
| Wenzel School | K-2 | 147 | 21.0 |
Towns near Sturgis
- Burr Oak, MI5.1 mi · 2,639 people · home $155,300
- Sherman, MI5.3 mi · 3,444 people · home $262,700
- White Pigeon, MI9.1 mi · 3,762 people · home $180,400
- Nottawa, MI10.2 mi · 3,685 people · home $214,300
- Lagrange, IN10.4 mi · 2,715 people · home $150,100
- Colon, MI10.9 mi · 3,325 people · home $192,400
- Lockport, MI12.7 mi · 3,729 people · home $197,800
- Three Rivers, MI14.9 mi · 7,973 people · home $134,900
Sturgis questions
Is Sturgis, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sturgis scores better for retirees than 7% of Michigan towns and quieter than 9%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Sturgis?
The median owner-occupied home in Sturgis is valued at $152,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,710, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Sturgis?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Sturgis get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)