Sault Ste. Marie city, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Sault Ste. Marie city is a small city located in Michigan, within Chippewa County. The total population is 13,373. It ranks as the 79th most populous out of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sault Ste. Marie city is 34.9 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sault Ste. Marie city is $55,031. This is 23% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.7%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $127,300. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Sault Ste. Marie city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sault Ste. Marie city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 5.7%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

24.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sault Ste. Marie city, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. For official data, visit data.census.gov.