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Buying a home in Southgate, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Southgate is worth about $173,600, 25% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 48% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,292 a year in property taxes, about 1.90% of their home's value, higher than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $66,118 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Southgate at a glance

Southgate Michigan U.S.
Median home value $173,600 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,292 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.90% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $66,118 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,463 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.2% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $1,120 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.1% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1963 1972 1980
Vacant homes 5.1% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 29,366 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Southgate

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Southgate home of $173,600 with 20% down costs about $1,281 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,571, 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 $54,919 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Southgate household income of $66,118; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $209,000.

The median rent here is $1,120 a month, so owning the median home costs about $161 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$34,720
Loan amount$138,880
Principal and interest$934
Property taxes (1.90% a year)$275
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$72
PMI$0
Total per month$1,281

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,076
Loan amount$170,456
Principal and interest$1,147
Property taxes (1.90% a year)$275
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$72
FHA mortgage insurance$77
Total per month$1,571

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Questions about home buying in Southgate

What is the median home value in Southgate?

About $173,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Southgate?

Homeowners pay a median $3,292 a year, which is about 1.90% 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 Southgate?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,281 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $54,919 a year.

More about Southgate

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