Small-town market profile · Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, MI area market data
How the Sault Ste. Marie area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 36,081
- −1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,080
- Median household income
- $62,217
- +33.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $161,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,286
- Highest market score
- 75
- Dentists and orthodontists, #51 of 526 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Sault Ste. Marie area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Sault Ste. Marie area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Sault Ste. Marie area has an estimated 36,081 people and 14,080 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Sault Ste. Marie area from 2020 to 2025 at −1.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Sault Ste. Marie area is $62,217, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 33.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Sault Ste. Marie area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 100, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (53).
Of the business types scored in the Sault Ste. Marie area, dentists and orthodontists (75), medical and dental practices (62) and landscaping and lawn care companies (55) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #51 of 526 scored small-town markets.
The Sault Ste. Marie area is made up of one county, Chippewa County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Sault Ste. Marie area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Sault Ste. Marie area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 75 | #51 of 526 | 7 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 255 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 62 | #147 of 538 | 78 | 55.4 | $225K | 148 | 27 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 55 | #154 of 399 | 5 | 3.6 | $3.1M | 105 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 54 | #204 of 458 | 7 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 141 | 18 |
| Spas and skin care | 53 | #210 of 504 | 8 | 5.7 | $1.5M | 175 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 51 | #208 of 431 | 5 | 3.6 | $2.7M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 51 | #252 of 538 | 37 | 26.3 | $332K | 156 | 12 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 48 | #221 of 400 | 5 | 3.6 | $3.5M | 112 | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 48 | #249 of 481 | 9 | 6.4 | $1.7M | 102 | 8 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 47 | #300 of 537 | 19 | 13.5 | $2.5M | 82 | 22 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 46 | #304 of 536 | 22 | 15.6 | $1.1M | 126 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 44 | #319 of 536 | 16 | 11.4 | $1.5M | 120 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 44 | #331 of 538 | 24 | 17.0 | $512K | 119 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 43 | #301 of 476 | 8 | 5.7 | $4.2M | 89 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 43 | #339 of 529 | 15 | 10.7 | $3.2M | 85 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #342 of 526 | 15 | 10.7 | $2.2M | 93 | 18 |
| Real estate | 42 | #359 of 536 | 26 | 18.5 | Index only | 159 | 10 |
| Pizza | 41 | #346 of 520 | 14 | 9.9 | $3.4M | 67 | 22 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #366 of 533 | 21 | 14.9 | Index only | 156 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 39 | #396 of 535 | 16 | 11.4 | $600K | 91 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 37 | #302 of 400 | 9 | 6.4 | $2M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 37 | #393 of 507 | 15 | 10.7 | $3.2M | 76 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 34 | #316 of 387 | 6 | 4.3 | $1.7M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #457 of 538 | 157 | 111.5 | $302K | 81 | 60 |
| Pet businesses | 28 | #474 of 527 | 21 | 14.9 | $484K | 55 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 27 | #477 of 538 | 38 | 27.0 | $356K | 80 | 22 |
| Insurance agencies | 26 | #457 of 537 | 21 | 14.9 | $1M | 81 | 13 |
| Auto repair and car care | 26 | #481 of 538 | 71 | 50.4 | $190K | 71 | 25 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 26 | #491 of 538 | 79 | 56.1 | $599K | 90 | 33 |
| Gyms | 23 | #472 of 506 | 13 | 9.2 | $738K | 57 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 22 | #365 of 387 | 7 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 63 | 7 |
| Car washes and detailing | 22 | #415 of 441 | 9 | 6.4 | $1.5M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 21 | #203 of 220 | 5 | 3.6 | $2M | 45 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 20 | #483 of 529 | 26 | 18.5 | $3M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 20 | #494 of 538 | 52 | 36.9 | $1.5M | 45 | 11 |
| Gas stations | 19 | #507 of 536 | 33 | 23.4 | $1.1M | 45 | 20 |
| Veterinarians | 15 | #392 of 398 | 9 | 6.4 | $1.1M | 41 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 15 | #490 of 506 | 20 | 14.2 | $3.9M | 42 | 10 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $1.1M | 109 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $4.4M | 184 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.1M | 184 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | Index only | 81 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $8.4M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $11.2M | 94 | 8 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $742K | 109 | 4 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $5.1M | 80 | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $4.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $12.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $24.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $24.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $9.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $13.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $15.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Sault Ste. Marie area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $13.5M | $960 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $35M | $2,488 | 96 |
| Food away from home | $47.4M | $3,363 | 83 |
| Groceries | $78.7M | $5,593 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.3M | $872 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.4M | $309 | 53 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.6M | $681 | 69 |
| Medical and dental services | $17.6M | $1,249 | 97 |
| Pets | $10.2M | $722 | 79 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $24.4M | $1,730 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.4M | $1,517 | 78 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $33.7M | $2,395 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.4M | $1,093 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $179M | $12,714 | 76 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Sault Ste. Marie area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 36,081−1.9% since 2020
- Households
- 14,080
- Median age
- 42.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 1,559 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 23
- Median household income
- $62,217+33.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $76,569
- Median home value
- $161,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,286
- Daytime population
- 35,358Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Sault Ste. Marie area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Sault Ste. Marie area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Sault Ste. Marie area 1
- Chippewa County, MI36,295 people
Other markets based in Michigan 12
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area4,376,828 people
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area1,162,152 people
- Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area472,669 people
- Flint, MI metro area403,305 people
- Ann Arbor, MI metro area369,822 people
- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area262,375 people
- Saginaw, MI metro area188,665 people
- Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI metro area175,961 people
- Jackson, MI metro area160,060 people
- Monroe, MI metro area155,505 people
- Traverse City, MI metro area155,449 people
- Niles, MI metro area153,288 people
Questions
How fast is the Sault Ste. Marie, MI area growing?
Population estimates put the Sault Ste. Marie area at 36,081 people in 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 14,080 households. Median household income rose 33.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Sault Ste. Marie, MI area spend?
Households in the Sault Ste. Marie area spend about $179M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $78.7M on groceries and $47.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Sault Ste. Marie area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 100, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Sault Ste. Marie, MI area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Sault Ste. Marie area are for dentists and orthodontists (75), medical and dental practices (62) and landscaping and lawn care companies (55). The Sault Ste. Marie area ranks #51 of 526 scored small-town markets for dentists and orthodontists.
How does the Sault Ste. Marie, MI area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Sault Ste. Marie area is $62,217 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $161,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Sault Ste. Marie area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (52% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 38 of the 56 business types have a score in the Sault Ste. Marie area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Sault Ste. Marie area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Sault Ste. Marie area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Sault Ste. Marie area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.