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Place dossier plate
SheetMI-SOUTH-HAVEN-MI · South Haven, MI 3,994 pop · income 42nd pct · 31 tracts
Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.
Income neighbourhood around South Haven
Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest South Haven on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.
median HH income
Brownsville · lowest
26,971
Brownsville · lowest
26,971 median HH income
12.0% of the leader · rank #1
South Haven · this city
64,338
South Haven · this city
64,338 median HH income
28.7% of the leader · rank #2
Coon Rapids · near
64,338
Coon Rapids · near
64,338 median HH income
28.7% of the leader · rank #3
Le Roy · near
64,338
Le Roy · near
64,338 median HH income
28.7% of the leader · rank #4
Iowa Park · near
64,340
Iowa Park · near
64,340 median HH income
28.7% of the leader · rank #5
Etna Green · near
64,342
Etna Green · near
64,342 median HH income
28.7% of the leader · rank #6
San Miguel CD… · highest
224,219
San Miguel CD… · highest
224,219 median HH income
100.0% of the leader · rank #7
What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by population, income, and FBI crime rate
Out-of-state nearest neighbors for South Haven on ACS population and median household income
, plus FBI UCR reporting rate when the extract covers this place. Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.
Similar population
Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 3,994.
Agency-reported UCR totals per 100,000 population, not a neighborhood safety grade or a prediction of personal risk.
South Haven - the verdict
Nationally, South Haven sits in the 42nd percentile for household income and the 3rd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.
42nd
percentile, household income
75th
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
3rd
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: South Haven, MI
Michigan's South Haven is a small town, with 3,994 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in South Haven brings in $64,338 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.7%. South Haven's housing stock carries a median value of $372,200, and the median resident age is 59.5 years. Educational attainment runs 42.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.
The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 23 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 77% from five years earlier. South Haven's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 5631.7 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).
Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,113 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 49.6 out of 100 (Low).
A decision-led reading path
Useful questions to ask of South Haven's data
How this reading path is ordered
This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to schools and households to within-city variation to reported crime to work and mobility to population change to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.
For South Haven, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, commute-mode shares.
All six city-specific enrichment layers used by this profile are present.
1. Housing and income
How far does income reach against housing in South Haven?
This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.
The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 5.8 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 12.7%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.
What does the education layer cover for South Haven?
The matched institution count is small, so district boundaries and schools outside the city line may matter more than the municipal count suggests. Use the number as a coverage cue, then verify attendance zones with the district before making a household decision.
The NCES join finds 1 public school within the city match. 42.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.
What can 31 Census tracts reveal inside South Haven?
PlainCities matches 31 Census tracts to this city.
That layer breaks the citywide income, rent, and home-value medians into smaller Census geographies, which can reveal differences that one municipal median necessarily hides. A tract is a statistical area, not a locally defined neighborhood or a promise about conditions on a particular block. Start with the city profile for the broad comparison, then use the tract layer to test whether the same housing and income pattern is consistent across the city. Large within-city spreads are a reason to avoid treating any citywide median as a universal resident experience.
Which cities make useful reference points for South Haven?
Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching. The nationwide peer panel below adds a fourth FBI UCR reporting-rate lens, not personal risk.
Within Michigan, the closest population matches are Belleville (3,961 residents, $59,929 income); Dorr (3,952 residents, $95,575 income); Marine City (4,047 residents, $63,156 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Basalt, CO (3,995 residents); Trappe, PA (3,995 residents); Indian Head Park, IL (3,992 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.
These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.
Reported crime
What can the FBI record say about safety in South Haven?
The joined FBI UCR record reports 5631.7 violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents, above the 2280.5 national reference used here. The difference is 147% higher in arithmetic terms, but agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies.
Treat this as a reporting-rate comparison, not a prediction of personal risk or a neighborhood-level safety grade. Tourism, daytime population, reporting practices, and variation inside the city are not adjusted away. The state rank and same-state peer table are the narrower comparisons available on this page.
Total reported rate
5631.7
Violent rate
672.8
Property rate
4958.9
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, incidents per 100,000. Voluntary agency reporting; not a danger score.
What does the journey to work look like in South Haven?
Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 66.2%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.
Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.
Drive alone
66.2%
Work from home
19.1%
Public transit
0.4%
City-level Census ACS commuting estimates covering 1,628 workers age 16+.
Is South Haven growing, shrinking, or holding steady?
Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +45 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +1.1% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 23 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.
Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.
2020 estimate
3,957
2025 estimate
4,002
Period change
+1.1%
Census Population Estimates Program, 2020–2025; permit context uses Census BPS.
Below median income · poverty 12.7% (Above-median poverty)
Cost of Living Index (state)
96.2 (US=100)
Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average
D
City profile score · South Haven, MI
40/100
5 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023
Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians
(income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when
published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability
rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out
and redistribute weight.
How it is calculated.
Bachelor's+ share B+
42.1%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.
Cost of living C
96.2 index
BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.
Household income D
$64,338
Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.
Poverty rate F
12.7%
Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.
Violent crime F
673 /100k
FBI UCR violent offenses per 100,000 residents; lower is stronger on this axis.
South Haven profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)Read the chart values
Bachelor's+ share: 77/100 (B+) · 42.1%
Cost of living: 57/100 (C) · 96.2 index
Household income: 41/100 (D) · $64,338
Poverty rate: 29/100 (F) · 12.7%
Violent crime: 7/100 (F) · 673 /100k
Where South Haven sits on home value vs crime among peer cities
South Haven's median home value and FBI crime rate plotted with similar-size and
same-state peers (padded with large cities when the peer set is thin). The second
read: pricey does not always mean safer, check which quadrant this city lands in.
Census ACS median home value vs FBI UCR crime rate - South Haven highlighted among 27 peers.Read the chart values
South Haven, MI (this city): home $372,200, crime 5,632/100k
Basalt, CO : home $1,148,100, crime 1,496/100k
Indian Head Park, IL : home $337,700, crime 312/100k
Falmouth, MA : home $745,900, crime 1,125/100k
Belleville, MI : home $162,700, crime 1,317/100k
Marine City, MI : home $146,500, crime 900/100k
Otsego, MI : home $155,500, crime 1,065/100k
New York, NY : home $751,700, crime 3,039/100k
Los Angeles, CA : home $879,500, crime 2,212/100k
Chicago, IL : home $315,200, crime 4,012/100k
Houston, TX : home $253,400, crime 5,442/100k
Phoenix, AZ : home $381,900, crime 3,125/100k
Philadelphia, PA : home $232,400, crime 5,457/100k
San Antonio, TX : home $219,700, crime 5,218/100k
San Diego, CA : home $848,500, crime 2,082/100k
Dallas, TX : home $295,300, crime 4,010/100k
San Jose, CA : home $1,187,800, crime 3,195/100k
Austin, TX : home $512,700, crime 3,709/100k
Fort Worth, TX : home $277,300, crime 3,158/100k
Columbus, OH : home $234,500, crime 3,088/100k
Indianapolis, IN : home $207,000, crime 4,214/100k
San Francisco, CA : home $1,380,500, crime 4,526/100k
Seattle, WA : home $912,100, crime 5,783/100k
Denver, CO : home $586,700, crime 5,755/100k
Oklahoma City, OK : home $215,100, crime 3,570/100k
El Paso, TX : home $171,700, crime 1,772/100k
Washington, DC : home $724,600, crime 4,514/100k
How does South Haven compare to other US cities?
Where South Haven sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.
Household income42% higher than other cities
Home value75% pricier than other cities
Median rent32% pricier than other cities
Safety3% 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: South Haven ranks #250 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 South Haven against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.
Michigan-relative analysis
Median Gross Rent places South Haven near the bottom of Michigan's cities
Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, South Haven ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Haven only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.
Median Household Income
#295 of 718
59th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#45 of 721
94th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#224 of 727
69th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#112 of 727
85th percentile in Michigan
How in-state ranks are ordered
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.
Gauge source note
42nd percentile nationally for median household income · 3rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.
South Haven's profile vs. every US city
Income, affordability, and safety percentile
South Haven'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 South Haven's home value compares nationally
Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)
$372,20025th percentilemore affordable than 25% of 15,600 US cities
Show national distribution
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
South Haven's home-value-to-income ratio: 5.8×
ACS median home value divided by median household income.
Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#13,893 of 15,516
More affordable than 10% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#10,337 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)
At 5.8×, South Haven sits in the pressured band:
national rank #13,893 of 15,516 and #10,337 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000).
Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median, a comparison flag, not a verdict on any household.
How this ratio is calculated
Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000.
Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0).
This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.
Income distribution context
$64,338South Haven, MI median household income (Census ACS)
Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context South Haven, MI median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for South Haven, MI.
Key socioeconomic indicators
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)42.1%
Census ACS S1501, educational attainment
Poverty rate (households below FPL)12.7%
Census ACS S1701, poverty status
Labor force participation (adults 16+)47.4%
Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force
Population
3,994
Median Income
$64,338
Median Home Value
$372,200
Median Age
59.5
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Labor force participation
47.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
42.1%
Safety & Crime
Total Crime Rate
5631.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
672.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4958.9
per 100,000 residents
Crime reporting caveat
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
1
Public schools in this city
Population Change
PEP vintage
Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025
South Haven's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.Read the chart as text
Period
Population
2020
3,957 residents
2021
3,980 residents
2022
3,981 residents
2023
4,000 residents
2024
4,008 residents
2025
4,002 residents
Housing Supply
BPS source
Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized
📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
23
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.8
permits per 1,000 residents
5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)
Year
Total
Single-Family
Multifamily
Est. Value
2019
13
11
2
$3.5M
2020
37
25
12
$8.8M
2021
35
35
0
$10.6M
2022
29
29
0
$9.4M
2023
24
24
0
$11.2M
2024
23
19
4
$12.6M
Permit volume increased 77% from 2019 to 2024.
Commute Patterns
Commute source
How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023
Drive Alone
66.2%
Carpool
8.8%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
19.1%
Based on 1,628 workers 16 and over.
Monthly Utility Costs
Michigan statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $238
EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Michigan at $238 (electricity about $105 , water and sewer about $48 ).
These are Michigan statewide averages, not a meter reading for South Haven. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.
Living Costs & Risk
Michigan's BEA cost-of-living index is 96.2 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around South Haven is $1,113/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Michigan statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 49.6 / 100 (Low).
Cost/risk geography note
Cost of living is a Michigan statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county South Haven sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.
How South Haven compares to similar-size Michigan cities
Same-state peer method
Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.
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.