City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Benton Harbor, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Benton Harbor - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,023
Residents
$29,652
Median income
$75,500
Median home
$1,016
Median rent (state)

Benton Harbor - the verdict

Nationally, Benton Harbor sits in the 2nd percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

2nd
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
21st
percentile, median rent
1st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Benton Harbor, MI

Michigan's Benton Harbor is a small town, with 9,023 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $29,652 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 42.3%. Benton Harbor's housing stock carries a median value of $75,500, and the median resident age is 33.2 years. About 7.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 5 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 25% from five years earlier. Benton Harbor's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 7371.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.7°F with 35.0 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,016 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Michigan's average monthly utility costs around $238 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 60.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

9,023 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$29,652 /yr

Poverty 42.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Benton Harbor compare to other US cities?

Here's how Benton Harbor stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Michigan alone, Benton Harbor ranks #254 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Benton Harbor's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Michigan, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

2ndIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Benton Harbor's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Benton Harbor's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 30 Avg. percentile National median
Benton Harbor's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Benton Harbor's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$75,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Benton Harbor $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Benton Harbor, MI Benton Harbor, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Benton Harbor, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Benton Harbor, MI median $29,652/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Benton Harbor, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Benton Harbor, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 7.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 42.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,023
Median Income
$29,652
Median Home Value
$75,500
Median Age
33.2
Poverty Rate
42.3%
Labor force participation
48.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
7.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
7371.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1874.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5497.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.7°F
Annual Precipitation
35.0"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,700 residents8,800 residents8,900 residents9,000 residents9,100 residents9,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,085 residents 8,803 residents ▼ -3.1%
Benton Harbor's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 4
2022 3
2023 1
2024 5

Permit volume increased 25% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.2%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
3.3%
Work from Home
7.6%

Based on 3,142 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Benton Harbor sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,016/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Lapeer
9,053 people
Saline
8,976 people
Westwood
8,968 people
Greenville
8,897 people
Ecorse
9,170 people
Plymouth
9,234 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Benton Harbor's 9,023 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Craig, CO
9,022 people
Cape St. Claire, MD
9,016 people
Rice Lake, WI
9,030 people
Oak Grove, MN
9,031 people
Audubon, PA
9,014 people
Summit View, WA
9,014 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Benton Harbor's $29,652 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cairo, WV
$29,650 median income
Lake Bruce, IN
$29,643 median income
Carbondale, IL
$29,670 median income
Salida del Sol Estates, TX
$29,631 median income
Arroyo Colorado Estates, TX
$29,625 median income
Río Blanco comunidad, PR
$29,620 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Benton Harbor, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Benton Harbor, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 10.4% 80.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.5% White 10.4% Black or African American 80.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.4% Two or more races 5.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Benton Harbor compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Benton Harbor (this city) 9,023 $29,652
Lapeer 9,053 $53,038
Saline 8,976 $90,662
Westwood 8,968 $62,408
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Benton Harbor, MI?

What is the population of Benton Harbor, MI? +

Benton Harbor, MI counts 9,023 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Benton Harbor, MI? +

Median annual household income in Benton Harbor runs $29,652, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Benton Harbor? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Benton Harbor; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Benton Harbor, MI safe? +

Benton Harbor has a total crime rate of 7371.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Benton Harbor, MI? +

The median home value in Benton Harbor is $75,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Benton Harbor? +

Benton Harbor has an average annual temperature of 49.7°F, 35.0 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.