Benton Harbor, Michigan
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Benton Harbor, compared with Michigan and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Benton Harbor city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 2607520 · Michigan directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 8,803 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- -0.4% -32 residents
- Household income
- $31,117 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$4,857
- Home value
- $76,500 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$6,234
- Monthly gross rent
- $851 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$111
- Median age
- 32.8 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±4.5
Benton Harbor is an incorporated city in Berrien County, Michigan, part of the Niles, MI metropolitan area. With 8,803 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 102nd in Michigan and 3,520th nationally among Census places. Its population fell by 32 (0.4%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has declined 3.2%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $851 a month, 24.6% below the Michigan median. Median household income is $31,117, 57.3% below the Michigan median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Benton Harbor?
Compared with other Michigan places, Benton Harbor is most distinctive for higher unemployment, a higher poverty rate and more renters. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Unemployment rate (civilian labor force): 21.6%, 15.9 percentage points above the Michigan rate (5.7%); higher than 99% of 104 Michigan places with reliable estimates. It ranks 1st of 104 in Michigan.
- Poverty rate: 40.1%, 26.9 percentage points above the Michigan rate (13.2%); higher than 99% of 331 Michigan places with reliable estimates. It ranks 3rd of 331 in Michigan.
- Homeownership rate: 36.7%, 36.5 percentage points below the Michigan rate (73.2%); lower than 99% of 529 Michigan places with reliable estimates. Only 4 of 529 Michigan places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Median household income: $31,117, 57.3% below the Michigan median ($72,875); lower than 99% of 510 Michigan places with reliable estimates. Only 4 of 510 Michigan places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Median real estate taxes paid: $911, 68.6% below the Michigan median ($2,904); lower than 98% of 520 Michigan places with reliable estimates. Only 7 of 520 Michigan places with reliable estimates are lower.
How Benton Harbor compares with Michigan and the U.S.
| Measure | Benton Harbor | Michigan | U.S. | Position in Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | -3.2% | — | — | lower than 92% of 532 Michigan places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 2,006 | — | — | higher than 77% of 533 Michigan places |
| Median household income B19013 | $31,117 ±$4,857 | $72,875 | $80,734 | lower than 99% of 510 Michigan places |
| Median home value B25077 | $76,500 ±$6,234 | $231,600 | $332,700 | lower than 97% of 522 Michigan places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $911 ±$168 | $2,904 | $3,119 | lower than 98% of 520 Michigan places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $851 ±$111 | $1,129 | $1,413 | lower than 61% of 474 Michigan places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 66.1% ±13.3 pp | 50.4% | 51.1% | higher than 91% of 318 Michigan places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 36.7% ±5.6 pp | 73.2% | 65.2% | lower than 99% of 529 Michigan places |
| Median age B01002 | 32.8 years ±4.5 | 40.2 years | 38.9 years | lower than 90% of 530 Michigan places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 7.4% ±2.1 pp | 32.4% | 35.7% | lower than 98% of 433 Michigan places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 40.1% ±7.1 pp | 13.2% | 12.5% | higher than 99% of 331 Michigan places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 6.6% ±2.1 pp | 4.9% | 8.4% | higher than 62% of 178 Michigan places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 78.6% ±3.8 pp | 90.5% | 91.0% | lower than 93% of 525 Michigan places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 21.6% ±5.3 pp | 5.7% | 5.2% | higher than 99% of 104 Michigan places |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 1.2% ±0.9 pp · low precision | 7.2% | 14.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 20.7 | — | — | lower than 86% of 415 Michigan places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | -7.0% | — | — | lower than 52% of 377 Michigan places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 5.8% ±2.9 pp · low precision | 13.5% | 15.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 9.4% ±4.5 pp | 12.9% | 16.5% | lower than 72% of 305 Michigan places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 28.4% ±8.0 pp | 7.0% | 8.4% | higher than 98% of 175 Michigan places |
Positions compare Benton Harbor with Michigan places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 2 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.
How many people live in Benton Harbor?
The latest official estimate is 8,803 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 3,520th by population nationally and 102nd in Michigan among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 32 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 9,085 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 9,012 | -73 |
| July 1, 2022 | 8,939 | -73 |
| July 1, 2023 | 8,878 | -61 |
| July 1, 2024 | 8,835 | -43 |
| July 1, 2025 | 8,803 | -32 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is −293 residents (-3.2%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Benton Harbor city, Michigan · Incorporated city · 2607520
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Berrien County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Niles, MI — Metropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 4.4 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 0.2 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 2,006 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 42.113495°, -86.44725° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $31,117 ±$4,857 | $72,875 ±$293 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $18,667 ±$3,448 | $40,735 ±$166 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 3,553 ±625 | 40.1% ±7.1 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 40.1% (±7.1 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $76,500 ±$6,234 | $231,600 ±$642 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $851 ±$111 | $1,129 ±$4 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 1,329 ±227 | 36.7% ±5.6 pp |
| Renter occupied | 2,295 ±324 | 63.3% ±7.5 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 36.7% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 2.5 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| 1 bedroom | $444 | ±$417 | Low precision |
| 2 bedrooms | $828 | ±$110 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,269 | ±$283 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | $944 | ±$217 | Estimate with MOE |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 3,975 ±284 | 60.9% ±3.3 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 2,550 ±359 | 39.1% ±5.2 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 3,116 ±273 | 78.4% ±4.0 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 859 ±220 | 21.6% ±5.3 pp |
These estimates describe residents of Benton Harbor wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Benton Harbor. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 30.2% (940 people; ±8.4 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 46 ±74 · low precision | 1.5% ±2.4 pp · low precision |
| Construction | 71 ±47 · low precision | 2.3% ±1.5 pp · low precision |
| Manufacturing | 534 ±174 | 17.1% ±5.4 pp |
| Wholesale trade | 41 ±39 · low precision | 1.3% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Retail trade | 372 ±152 | 11.9% ±4.8 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 90 ±72 · low precision | 2.9% ±2.3 pp · low precision |
| Information | 46 ±53 · low precision | 1.5% ±1.7 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 132 ±82 · low precision | 4.2% ±2.6 pp · low precision |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 76 ±46 · low precision | 2.4% ±1.5 pp · low precision |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 940 ±275 | 30.2% ±8.4 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 525 ±198 | 16.8% ±6.2 pp |
| Other services, except public administration | 149 ±89 · low precision | 4.8% ±2.8 pp · low precision |
| Public administration | 94 ±55 · low precision | 3.0% ±1.7 pp · low precision |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 518 ±156 | 16.6% ±4.8 pp |
| Service occupations | 1,131 ±260 | 36.3% ±7.7 pp |
| Sales and office | 802 ±244 | 25.7% ±7.5 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 98 ±61 · low precision | 3.1% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 567 ±186 | 18.2% ±5.8 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 95 ±82 · low precision | 3.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 10 ±22 · low precision | 0.3% ±0.7 pp · low precision |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 118 ±80 · low precision | 3.8% ±2.5 pp · low precision |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 97 ±77 · low precision | 3.1% ±2.5 pp · low precision |
| Sales and related occupations | 266 ±125 | 8.5% ±3.9 pp |
| Transportation occupations | 49 ±37 · low precision | 1.6% ±1.2 pp · low precision |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 2,354 ±294 | 79.0% ±6.6 pp |
| Carpooled | 299 ±150 · low precision | 10.0% ±4.9 pp |
| Public transportation | 23 ±32 · low precision | 0.8% ±1.1 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 0 ±16 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.5 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 0 ±16 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.5 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 13 ±21 · low precision | 0.4% ±0.7 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 103 ±108 · low precision | 3.5% ±3.6 pp · low precision |
| Other means | 17 ±26 · low precision | 0.6% ±0.9 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 172 ±87 · low precision | 5.8% ±2.9 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 1,545 ±321 | 55.0% ±10.0 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 838 ±243 | 29.8% ±8.1 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 162 ±80 | 5.8% ±2.8 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 120 ±63 · low precision | 4.3% ±2.2 pp · low precision |
| 60 minutes or longer | 144 ±113 · low precision | 5.1% ±4.0 pp · low precision |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 1,031 ±300 | 28.4% ±8.0 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 32.8 years (±4.5). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Michigan and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Benton Harbor?
Employers in Benton Harbor reported 1,862 jobs in 2021, -7.0% compared with 2019 (2,003 jobs). That is 20.7 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2021 population estimate, so most employed residents are likely to work elsewhere. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures. 2021 is the latest year Michigan has supplied to this dataset.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | Michigan share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 510 | 27.4% | 16.1% |
| Manufacturing | 197 | 10.6% | 14.5% |
| Public administration | 154 | 8.3% | 3.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 133 | 7.1% | 7.6% |
| Other services, except public administration | 130 | 7.0% | 3.1% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 129 | 6.9% | 7.5% |
| Educational services | 100 | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| Retail trade | 93 | 5.0% | 10.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 75 | 4.0% | 4.1% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 70 | 3.8% | 6.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 69 | 3.7% | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 49 | 2.6% | 0.9% |
| Construction | 48 | 2.6% | 4.3% |
| Information | 41 | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 40 | 2.1% | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 0.9% | 3.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | Michigan share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 393 | 21.1% | 19.1% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 534 | 28.7% | 28.1% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 935 | 50.2% | 52.8% |
| Age 29 or younger | 329 | 17.7% | 23.4% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 1,038 | 55.7% | 52.7% |
| Age 55 or older | 495 | 26.6% | 24.0% |
Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Benton Harbor (27.4% of local jobs, compared with 16.1% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
No station in the retained NOAA release meets our complete standard-normal criteria within 25 km of this place’s Census internal point. We leave local climate values unavailable. Use NOAA’s station lookup to inspect other locations and their coverage.
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.