The Town FilesThree Rivers, Michigan
City in St. Joseph County · population 7,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,900
- Household income
- $49,503
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.0
Three Rivers is a city of 7,973 people in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The median home is worth $134,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Three Rivers 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 Three Rivers is worth $134,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $49,503, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Three Rivers | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $839 | $955 |
| Median household income | $49,503 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Three Rivers
| People | Three Rivers | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Three Rivers
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Three Rivers since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 6, 2026 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 10, 1987.
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 Three Rivers itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Three Rivers
6 public schools with 2,266 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Rivers High School | 9-12 | 676 | 18.8 |
| Three Rivers Middle School | 6-8 | 495 | 17.7 |
| Ruth Hoppin School | K-5 | 294 | 18.4 |
| Andrews Elementary School | PK-5 | 281 | 16.5 |
| Park Elementary School | K-5 | 273 | 15.2 |
| Norton Elementary School | K-5 | 247 | 17.6 |
Towns near Three Rivers
- Lockport, MI2.6 mi · 3,729 people · home $197,800
- Fabius, MI3.6 mi · 3,311 people · home $270,700
- Constantine, MI7.6 mi · 4,037 people · home $162,000
- Nottawa, MI8.2 mi · 3,685 people · home $214,300
- Sherman, MI9.8 mi · 3,444 people · home $262,700
- Mendon, MI10.2 mi · 2,581 people · home $181,700
- White Pigeon, MI11.1 mi · 3,762 people · home $180,400
- Schoolcraft, MI11.7 mi · 9,183 people · home $258,200
Three Rivers questions
Is Three Rivers, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Three Rivers scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 15%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Three Rivers?
The median owner-occupied home in Three Rivers is valued at $134,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,503, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Three Rivers?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Three Rivers get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Three Rivers since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 6, 2026. 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)