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City · 13,335 residents · Chippewa County, Michigan

Sault Ste. Marie , Michigan

In Sault Ste. Marie, a typical home is worth $139,400 and typical rent is $804 a month. Compared with all of Chippewa County, the typical home value is 14% lower, typical household income is 11% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 15 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $139,400

    14% below the county

    40% below Michigan

    • Sault Ste. Marie
    • Chippewa
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $804a month

    About the same as the county

    29% below Michigan

    • Sault Ste. Marie
    • Chippewa
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $55,328a year

    11% below the county

    24% below Michigan

    • Sault Ste. Marie
    • Chippewa
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    60%

    15 points below the county

    13 points below Michigan

    • Sault Ste. Marie
    • Chippewa
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$198,762
5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Sault Ste. Marie is in Chippewa County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Chippewa County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Sault Ste. Marie apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 60% of households in Sault Ste. Marie own their home, against 75% in Chippewa County.

  2. Nearby, in Alpena, the typical rent is $625: 22% less than in Sault Ste. Marie ($804).

  3. Sault Ste. Marie has the 16th lowest typical rent of the 175 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people ($804).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Sault Ste. Marie

What homes there are in Sault Ste. Marie, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Sault Ste. Marie, but it weighs less than in Chippewa County: 65% against 78%.

Year built

In Sault Ste. Marie, half of the homes were built before 1956; in Chippewa County, before 1976.

By size, homes in Sault Ste. Marie look like those in Chippewa County: 57% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Chippewa County is high ($541,287): at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Sault Ste. Marie are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Sault Ste. Marie cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,042): about 75%.

With a mortgage

$1,064 a month

Chippewa County: $1,207 a month

Without a mortgage

$515 a month

Chippewa County: $470 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Chippewa County: 54%

Owning costs less in Sault Ste. Marie: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,064 a month; in Chippewa County, $1,207. Without one, $515.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Sault Ste. Marie gained value faster than in Chippewa County: 51% against 36%.

The typical rent in Sault Ste. Marie rose 15% over the same time; in Chippewa County, it rose 18%.

To compare: typical income in Sault Ste. Marie rose 44%; the home, +51%; the rent, +15%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSault Ste. MarieChippewa CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.8%5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.102.262.422.53
Drive alone 73%77%74%69%
Carpool 10%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 10%5%2%3%
Work from home 5%7%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Sault Ste. Marie are smaller: 2.10 people on average; in Chippewa County, 2.26.

In Sault Ste. Marie, 10% of workers walk or bike to work; in Chippewa County, 5%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Sault Ste. Marie?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Sault Ste. Marie, worth $139,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Sault Ste. Marie, which is $55,328 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Chippewa County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Sault Ste. Marie. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,879 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,258

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$136,875
Total interest
$196,931
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,354 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,291 a month

    Your payment · 27%

  • Tight

    $1,291 to $1,660 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,660 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Sault Ste. Marie ($55,328 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,258
Principal & interest$927
Property tax$211
Home insurance$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$62

You need at least $4,879 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Sault Ste. Marie and Chippewa County

Sault Ste. Marie is in Chippewa County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Sault Ste. Marie's own numbers

Typical home value
$139,400
Typical monthly rent
$804
Typical yearly household income
$55,328
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
1.82%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Chippewa County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,042
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+66%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
13%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Chippewa County.

Everything about Chippewa County

Buying

Buying a home in Sault Ste. Marie

A typical home in Sault Ste. Marie is worth $139,400: 14% below the county and 40% below Michigan. With the typical household income in Sault Ste. Marie ($55,328 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Sault Ste. Marie 2.5 years
  • Chippewa 2.6 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Chippewa County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Chippewa County rose 90% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Chippewa County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.7% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +66% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +90% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Sault Ste. Marie next to Chippewa County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Sault Ste. Marie $139,400
  • Chippewa $161,900
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Sault Ste. Marie $804
  • Chippewa $797
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Sault Ste. Marie $55,328
  • Chippewa $62,217
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Sault Ste. Marie next to Chippewa County and Michigan
Measure Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $139,400 $161,900 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $804 $797 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,328 $62,217 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 60% 75% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,538 $2,038 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.82% 1.26% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 47% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Chippewa County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Sault Ste. Marie

For a typical $139,400 home in Sault Ste. Marie, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Sault Ste. Marie's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,258a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,879
    Cash to close
    $9,061
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $62

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,233a month

    Down payment
    $6,970
    Cash to close
    $11,152
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $66

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,025a month

    Down payment
    $27,880
    Cash to close
    $32,062
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,154a month

    Down payment
    $20,910
    Cash to close
    $25,092
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Sault Ste. Marie and for Chippewa County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Sault Ste. Marie

1.82%of the home’s value each year

$2,538 a year for the typical owner in Sault Ste. Marie.

  • Sault Ste. Marie 1.82%
  • Chippewa 1.26%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Chippewa County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Chippewa County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
13%
2,376
Of those, with NFIP insurance
2.4%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 13% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 2.4% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Sault Ste. Marie

Typical rent in Sault Ste. Marie is $804 a month: about the same as the county. In Sault Ste. Marie, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Chippewa County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,042 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.04 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Chippewa County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $726 $13.96 $29,040
1 bedroom $863 $16.60 $34,520
2 bedrooms $1,042 $20.04 $41,680
3 bedrooms $1,242 $23.88 $49,680
4 bedrooms $1,369 $26.33 $54,760

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Sault Ste. Marie

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Sault Ste. Marie is in ZIP code 49783.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $2 less than the fair market rent for Chippewa County ($1,042).

  • 49783 $1,040$1,240

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Sault Ste. Marie when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Sault Ste. Marie

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Sault Ste. Marie.

  • Bridge Village 591 Myrtle, Sault Ste Marie 49783 100 low-income homes · For families (906) 632-4655

See all 13 buildings in Chippewa County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Sault Ste. Marie

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Chippewa County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Sault Ste. Marie

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Sault Ste. Marie or Chippewa County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Sault Ste. Marie the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Sault Ste. Marie

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Sault Ste. Marie, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • H.o.m.e. of Mackinac County

    396 N State St, Saint Ignace · 45 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (906) 643-6239

  • Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc.

    2240 Mitchell Park Dr. Suite A, Petoskey · 81 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL).

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (231) 347-9070

  • Northern Homes Community Development Corporation

    900 Emmet St, Petoskey · 82 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (231) 582-6244

All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Sault Ste. Marie

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Sault Ste. Marie

HUD’s record names them for Sault Ste. Marie or Chippewa County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Sault Ste Marie Housing Commission Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (906) 635-5841

All housing agencies in Michigan Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Sault Ste. Marie, with the typical home value.

Everything about Chippewa County Housing in Michigan

Neighboring counties

If Chippewa County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Sault Ste. Marie.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Sault Ste. Marie

Short answers with the numbers for Sault Ste. Marie and all of Chippewa County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Sault Ste. Marie?

The typical home value in Sault Ste. Marie is $139,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Chippewa County it is $161,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Sault Ste. Marie?

Typical rent in Sault Ste. Marie is $804 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Chippewa County is $1,042.

What is the FHA loan limit in Sault Ste. Marie?

Sault Ste. Marie uses the FHA limit for all of Chippewa County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Sault Ste. Marie?

The typical homeowner in Sault Ste. Marie pays $2,538 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.82% of the home’s value; in Chippewa County, the rate is 1.26%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Sault Ste. Marie?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Chippewa County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).