City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Birch Run, MI

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

1,236
Residents
$65,313
Median income
$185,900
Median home
$1,033
Median rent (state)

Birch Run - the verdict

Nationally, Birch Run sits in the 43rd percentile for household income and the 6th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

43rd
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
22nd
percentile, median rent
6th
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: Birch Run, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,236 residents in Birch Run, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $65,313 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.5%. Typical homes in Birch Run are valued around $185,900, and the median resident age is 41.8 years. 16.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier. Birch Run's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 4234.5 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).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,033 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 92.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,236 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$65,313 /yr

Poverty 1.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Birch Run compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% pricier than other cities
Safety 6% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Birch Run ranks #244 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Birch Run against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Birch Run toward the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Birch Run ranks #632 - the 12th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Birch Run only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#281 of 718
61st percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#467 of 727
34th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#253 of 721
65th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#632 of 727
12th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#445 of 727
38th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

43rdIncome percentile
6thSafety percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income · 6th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Birch Run's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Birch Run'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 40 Avg. percentile National median
Birch Run'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 Birch Run's home value compares nationally

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

$185,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Birch Run $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 - Birch Run, MI Birch Run, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Birch Run, 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 Birch Run, MI median $65,313/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%
Birch Run, 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 Birch Run, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

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

Population
1,236
Median Income
$65,313
Median Home Value
$185,900
Median Age
41.8
Poverty Rate
1.5%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4234.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
260.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3973.9
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.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,530 residents1,540 residents1,550 residents1,560 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,558 residents 1,540 residents ▼ -1.2%
Birch Run's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 1
2022 1
2023 0
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.6%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
3.6%

Based on 563 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 Birch Run sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,033/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Grass Lake
1,235 people
Stockbridge
1,235 people
Reading
1,241 people
Edwardsburg
1,244 people
Kent City
1,218 people
Weidman
1,217 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Birch Run's 1,236 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Parker City, IN
1,236 people
Marcus, IA
1,236 people
Coal, WV
1,236 people
Roberta, GA
1,235 people
Goodman, MS
1,237 people
Pickens, MS
1,235 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Birch Run's $65,313 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lillian, AL
$65,313 median income
Bluewater, CA
$65,313 median income
Truro, IA
$65,313 median income
Burrton, KS
$65,313 median income
Schoenchen, KS
$65,313 median income
Lancaster, MN
$65,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Birch Run, 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 Birch Run, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.1% White 96.8% Black or African American 1.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 1.0% 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 Birch Run 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
Birch Run (this city) 1,236 $65,313
Grass Lake 1,235 $74,306
Stockbridge 1,235 $49,875
Reading 1,241 $48,804
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Birch Run, MI?

What is the population of Birch Run, MI? +

Birch Run, MI has a population of 1,236 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Birch Run, MI? +

In Birch Run, the typical household earns $65,313 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Birch Run? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Birch Run; 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 Birch Run, MI safe? +

Birch Run has a total crime rate of 4234.5 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 Birch Run, MI? +

Birch Run's median home value sits at $185,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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

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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.