Census-designated place · Michigan
Benton Heights, Michigan
Benton Heights, census-designated place, in Berrien County, Michigan. Benton Heights had 3,652 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,078 (±492). GEOID 2607540.
Residents, 2020 Census
3,652
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 3,078 ±492
Median household income
$33,542
±$20,229 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$97,700
±$30,878 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$612
±$398 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Benton Heights and what county is it in?
Benton Heights is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Berrien County, Michigan. It covers 3.9 square miles of land, 946 residents per square mile in 2020.
Benton Heights is in the Niles, MI metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Benton Heights lies entirely within Benton Charter Township, a charter township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Benton Heights, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,652 residents in Benton Heights, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 3,078 (±492).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Benton Heights is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Benton Heights | Berrien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,078 ±492 | 153,288 | −1,043 |
| Households | 1,413 ±220 | 63,999 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.14 ±0.33 | 2.35 | −0.73 |
| Housing units | 1,588 ±223 | 77,276 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Benton Heights?
The median resident of Benton Heights is 30.9 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 11.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 50.8%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 24.0%.
| Measure | Benton Heights | Berrien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 ±3.4 | 42.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.3% ±11.3 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.7% ±5.1 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Male | 48.0% ±7.9 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.7% ±14.1 pts | 6.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 24.0% ±7.2 pts | 72.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 50.8% ±13.5 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±3.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.0% ±5.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.3% ±14.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±4.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±4.5 pts | 14.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.9% ±4.2 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.6% ±9.6 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.9% ±7.9 pts | 30.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.3% ±4.9 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.6% ±7.3 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3% ±3.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Benton Heights earn?
Half of Benton Heights's 1,413 households earn less than $33,542 a year (±$20,229), against $65,425 in Berrien County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $36,806 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 39.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Benton Heights | Berrien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $33,542 ±$20,229 | $65,425 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $42,058 ±$9,159 | $89,826 | – |
| Per capita income | $20,572 ±$5,112 | $38,351 | +$6,559 |
| People below the poverty line | 39.5% ±17.4 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 68.5% ±22.4 pts | 22.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 48.6% ±9.9 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.1% ±4.7 pts | 93.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.4% ±5.1 pts | 89.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Benton Heights?
Owners occupy 48.2% of Benton Heights's occupied homes and renters 51.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $97,700 by its owner (±$30,878). The median renter pays $612 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Benton Heights | Berrien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $97,700 ±$30,878 | $224,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $612 ±$398 | $942 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 25.0% ±17.1 pts | 41.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,157 ±$201 | $1,462 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.2% ±11.2 pts | 72.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.8% ±11.2 pts | 27.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,588 ±223 | 77,276 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.3% ±3.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.1% ±10.6 pts | 76.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% ±2.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.5% ±4.7 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.3% ±8.3 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 18.9% ±8.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Benton Heights work and get to work?
86.1% of Benton Heights's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 14.9 minutes.
| Measure | Benton Heights | Berrien County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8% ±7.2 pts | 59.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±3.7 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 86.1% ±8.4 pts | 76.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±6.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±2.6 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.1% ±3.9 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.9 min ±1.7 | 21.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Benton Heights?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Benton Heights, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $20,132 (Tract 22) to $38,381 (Tract 23).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Benton Heights) · Census block assignment files
How does Benton Heights compare with other places in Michigan?
Benton Heights ranks 1,348th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 617th | 1,356 |
| Residents per square mile | 354th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 1,348th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 1,339th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,318th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 1,169th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 8th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,142nd | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,326th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,331st | 1,356 |
| Travel time to work | 1,321st | 1,356 |
Benton Heights's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Benton Heights with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Benton Heights?
21 of the 57 figures for Benton Heights on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benton Heights are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.