ZIP Code 48081 — Saint Clair Shores, MI Home Prices (2026)
The typical home in ZIP 48081 (Saint Clair Shores, Michigan) is worth about $248,000 at roughly $196 per square foot — 6% more expensive than the Saint Clair Shores median and 16% more affordable than the typical U.S. home.
How 48081 compares
ZIP 48081 is one of the pricier ZIP codes in Saint Clair Shores: its typical home value of $248,000 ranks #1 of the 3 Saint Clair Shores ZIP codes we track (the citywide range runs from $227,000 in 48080 to $248,000 in 48081). Per square foot it costs about $196, against $181 for Saint Clair Shores as a whole, $190 for Michigan, and $195 nationally.
| Area | Typical value | $ / sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP 48081 | $248,000 | $196 |
| Saint Clair Shores, MI | $234,000 | $181 |
| Michigan | $251,000 | $190 |
| United States | $294,000 | $195 |
Home value by size in 48081
Using this ZIP’s rate of about $196 per square foot. Condition, lot, and the exact street move these meaningfully — use the estimator below for a home-specific figure.
| Home size | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $196,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $294,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $392,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $490,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $588,000 |
Salary needed to buy a home in ZIP 48081
To buy the typical $248,000 home in ZIP 48081 with 20% down, you need a household income of roughly $67,000 a year (about $1,570 a month for the mortgage, taxes, and insurance). With 10% down the bar rises to about $80,000, because the loan is bigger and mortgage insurance kicks in.
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (+PMI) | $12,400 | $1,960/mo | $84,000/yr |
| 10% (+PMI) | $24,800 | $1,870/mo | $80,000/yr |
| 20% | $49,600 | $1,570/mo | $67,000/yr |
Assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.5%, property tax at 1.1% and insurance at 0.45% of value per year, PMI of 0.75% on loans with less than 20% down, and the standard 28% housing-to-income rule. Your rate, taxes, and HOA will move these — run your own numbers in the mortgage calculator.
What your budget buys in ZIP 48081
At about $196 per square foot, here is roughly how much home different budgets get you in ZIP 48081:
| Budget | Approx. size | What that looks like locally |
|---|---|---|
| $150k | 770 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $200k | 1020 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $250k | 1280 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $300k | 1530 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $400k | 2040 sq ft | above the median — larger homes or the pricier ZIPs |
Wondering where that budget goes further? The relocation calculator ranks hundreds of U.S. cities by what the same money buys — it opens pre-filled with a typical 48081 home.
Estimate a specific home in 48081
The estimator below is pre-set to ZIP 48081 — pick your home’s size for an instant ballpark, then open the full calculator to adjust beds, baths, and condition.
All Saint Clair Shores ZIP codes by home value
Where 48081 sits among Saint Clair Shores’s 3 ZIP codes:
ZIP 48081 home prices: frequently asked
What is the average home price in ZIP code 48081? +
What is the price per square foot in 48081? +
What salary do you need to buy a house in ZIP 48081? +
Is 48081 an expensive ZIP code? +
See the full Saint Clair Shores home values page, all Michigan cities, or price per square foot by ZIP code nationwide.
Directional estimates from public market data (Realtor.com & Zillow research), not appraisals. A single ZIP contains very different homes; actual values vary and change over time.