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Buying a home in Saginaw County, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Saginaw County is worth about $152,800, 34% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 54% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,284 a year in property taxes, about 1.49% of their home's value, higher than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $60,622 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 50% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Saginaw County at a glance

Saginaw County Michigan U.S.
Median home value $152,800 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,284 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.49% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $60,622 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 50% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,277 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.8% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $947 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.7% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1972 1980
Vacant homes 9.6% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 188,665 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Saginaw County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Saginaw County home of $152,800 with 20% down costs about $1,076 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,330, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $46,102 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Saginaw County household income of $60,622; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $201,000.

The median rent here is $947 a month, so owning the median home costs about $129 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$30,560
Loan amount$122,240
Principal and interest$822
Property taxes (1.49% a year)$190
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
PMI$0
Total per month$1,076

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,348
Loan amount$150,032
Principal and interest$1,009
Property taxes (1.49% a year)$190
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$64
FHA mortgage insurance$68
Total per month$1,330

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Questions about home buying in Saginaw County

What is the median home value in Saginaw County?

About $152,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Saginaw County?

Homeowners pay a median $2,284 a year, which is about 1.49% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Saginaw County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,076 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $46,102 a year.

More about Saginaw County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data