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Living in
Sturgis.
About
Life in Sturgis
Sturgis is a community of 11,077 people in Michigan. The median household income is $62,710, median rent runs about $826 per month, and median home values are around $152,600. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.
Sturgis at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Foreign-Born
13.0%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sturgis: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sturgis, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (87.3%), and 24.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.6%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.8%
of households
Married Couples
44.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 27% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Sturgis
In Sturgis, rent runs 27% below the MI average, and home values are 34% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,879
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $210,854 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in Sturgis
Unemployment in St. Joseph County, which includes Sturgis, is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Sturgis: St. Joseph County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Joseph County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sturgis Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.6 min avg
How Sturgis residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sturgis, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO)
Regional airport · few flights89k passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sturgis runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
445.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,299.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sturgis Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
58.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Joseph County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Joseph County, which includes Sturgis, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $175,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Tornado | $129,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Heavy Snow | $52,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Winter Weather | $56,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $99,300 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 12 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $680,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Joseph County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Elkhart County, IN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 27 miles from Sturgis) is typically good — 222 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
222
per year
Moderate Days
136
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Elkhart County, IN (27 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sturgis has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.5"
Annual Snowfall
41.2"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
140
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.70" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.91" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.52" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.64" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.27" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.06" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 3.39" |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.21" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.14" |
| Oct | 62°F | 43°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 48°F | 31°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 36°F | 23°F | 2.27" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sturgis
Sturgis has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
Sturgis Hospital
Rural Emergency Hospital · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Parkview Lagrange Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Lagrange
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sturgis
Sturgis's student/teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 87 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sturgis
Sturgis has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (87 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sturgis
Sturgis District Library
255 North Street, Sturgis
Cities Near Sturgis
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sturgis?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sturgis FAQ
Is Sturgis, Michigan affordable?⌄
Sturgis's median rent is $826/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,710/year. Median home value is $152,600.
Is Sturgis, Michigan safe?⌄
Sturgis's violent crime rate was 445 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2300 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sturgis, Michigan?⌄
St. Joseph County, which includes Sturgis, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sturgis, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Sturgis is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $826/month and median household income is $62,710/year. The median home value is $152,600. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sturgis, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Sturgis is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from