1st Advantage MortgageThe median Saginaw County household earns $60,622, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Saginaw County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Saginaw County
- What Saginaw County households earn
- Housing costs in Saginaw County
- How Saginaw County compares with nearby counties
- Saginaw County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Saginaw County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Saginaw County borrowers
- More Saginaw County figures
- Checklist for Saginaw County applicants
- Lender oversight for Saginaw County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Saginaw County at a glance
Roughly 188,665 residents live in Saginaw County, Michigan, 11th by population among the state's 83 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 801 square miles, that is close to 236 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Saginaw, MI metropolitan area. Of the 15 Census places inside Saginaw County, Saginaw leads by population with about 43,536; 8 of the 15 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Saginaw County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 23% for Michigan. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.4% in Saginaw County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. 7.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Saginaw County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | +0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Saginaw County households earn
Saginaw County households have a median income of $60,622 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 55th of 83 in Michigan.
| Households earning | Saginaw County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.5% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -3.1 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.2% of Saginaw County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Saginaw County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $947 in Saginaw County versus $1,129 statewide. By the Census definition, 55% of Saginaw County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $152,800, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Home costs | Saginaw County | Michigan | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $947/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,800 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 5.0% | n/a |
Because most Saginaw County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How Saginaw County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 26 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $61,763 in Bay County to $77,705 in Midland County; all six of these neighbors top Saginaw County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw County | - | $60,622 | $947/mo | 74% |
| Bay County, MI | 26 mi | $61,763 | $860/mo | 77% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 26 mi | $67,404 | $899/mo | 80% |
| Midland County, MI | 27 mi | $77,705 | $1,016/mo | 78% |
| Genesee County, MI | 28 mi | $62,281 | $989/mo | 71% |
| Gratiot County, MI | 28 mi | $63,556 | $834/mo | 79% |
| Tuscola County, MI | 33 mi | $63,811 | $819/mo | 86% |
Saginaw County towns compared
15 Census places fall mainly inside Saginaw County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 88,383 residents, leaving about 53% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,292 in Robin Glen-Indiantown to $110,547 in Freeland. No Saginaw County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 15.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw | city | 43,536 | $38,579 | $922 | 8 mi |
| Freeland | CDP | 7,557 | $110,547 | $1,245 | 13 mi |
| Shields | CDP | 7,402 | $82,125 | $941 | 7 mi |
| Bridgeport | CDP | 6,884 | $51,071 | $710 | 9 mi |
| Buena Vista | CDP | 5,798 | $41,999 | $906 | 10 mi |
| Frankenmuth | city | 5,157 | $85,433 | $851 | 16 mi |
| Chesaning | village | 2,484 | $59,777 | $679 | 10 mi |
| St. Charles | village | 1,934 | $50,000 | $460 | 5 mi |
| Zilwaukee | city | 1,609 | $57,756 | $1,195 | 13 mi |
| Hemlock | CDP | 1,529 | $102,188 | $1,011 | 11 mi |
| Birch Run | village | 1,439 | $70,521 | $999 | 14 mi |
| Burt | CDP | 1,339 | $90,156 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Merrill | village | 798 | $47,500 | $719 | 15 mi |
| Robin Glen-Indiantown | CDP | 660 | $32,292 | $1,213 | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at Saginaw County's medians
Saginaw County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $60,622 a year is $5,052 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $947, which is 19% of it
- With a 35% ceiling, about $821 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,326 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Saginaw County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Saginaw County borrowers.
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Saginaw County loan.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
More Saginaw County figures
24% of Saginaw County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 4.9% for Michigan.
| Measure | Saginaw County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Saginaw County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Checklist for Saginaw County applicants
Steps that save money for Saginaw County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Saginaw County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Ask a Saginaw County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Saginaw County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Saginaw County, check the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Michigan guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Saginaw County household make?
About $60,622 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Michigan median.
Is Saginaw County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $947 against $1,129 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Saginaw County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Saginaw County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Saginaw County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Saginaw, Freeland, Shields, Bridgeport, Buena Vista and 10 more.
Will a Saginaw County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.