James is a township in Saginaw County, Michigan, home to about 1,712 people across 17 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 48609.
Homes sold for a median of $137 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Thomas; part is in James
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside James. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up James’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)80 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | MBS International Airport (MBS)10 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Detroit, MI86 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL212 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of James; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
James had 1,792 residents in the 2020 census, down 7% since 2000.
It’s the 919th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.
Saginaw County grew from 81,222 residents in 1900 to 190,124 in 2020.
Saginaw County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 83°F in summer, and winter lows average 16°F. About 34 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 41 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Saginaw #3, MI weather station (7 miles away).
77,361 jobs at 4,092 businesses in Saginaw County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
39 doctors and other health care providers list an office in James.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 6 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 2 |
| Mental health providers | 17 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 5 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Counts are within about 3 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Swan Valley School District, Saginaw ISD. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert B Havens Elem SchoolSaginaw | Pre-K–5 | 390 | Public | 1.7 mi |
| Shields Elementary SchoolSaginaw | Pre-K–5 | 447 | Public | 2.6 mi |
| Michael J McGivneySaginaw | K–12 | 3 | Public | 3.0 mi |
| Swan Valley Middle SchoolSaginaw | 6–8 | 408 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Swan Valley Adult and Alternative EducationSaginaw | 9–12 | 29 | Alternative Education | 1.8 mi |
| Swan Valley High SchoolSaginaw | 9–12 | 504 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Baptist Christian SchoolSaginaw | Pre-K–12 | 74 | Baptist | 2.1 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Thomas and Swan Creek.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.