Census tract · Berrien County
Census Tract 3, Berrien County, Michigan
Census Tract 3, GEOID 26021000300, in Berrien County, Michigan, mostly within Benton Harbor (94% of its census blocks). 1,409 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±359); the 2020 Census counted 1,782.
Residents, 2020-2024
1,409
±359 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 1,782
Median household income
$32,238
±$6,791 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $65,425
Median home value
$38,800
±$11,550 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $224,300
Median gross rent
$1,006
±$242 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $942
Where is Census Tract 3?
Census Tract 3 is one of 54 census tracts in Berrien County, Michigan. It covers 1.57 square miles of land, 1,136 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 26021000300, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Benton Harbor | 94% |
| Benton Charter Township | 6% |
| Benton Heights | 3% |
7 census tracts border Census Tract 3: Tract 4, Tract 5 ($33,625), Tract 6 ($34,781), Tract 21 ($33,723), Tract 22 ($20,132), Tract 23 ($38,381) and Tract 25 ($54,497). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 3?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 3's population at 1,409 (±359) in 569 households; the 2020 Census counted 1,782 residents and 736 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 3 | Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,409 ±359 | 8,953 |
| Households | 569 ±142 | 3,624 |
| Average household size | 2.40 ±0.31 | 2.44 |
| Housing units | 755 ±142 | 4,239 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 3?
The median resident of Census Tract 3 is 34.8 years old; 29.7% are under 18 and 10.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 91.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 4.3%.
| Measure | Tract 3 | Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 ±6.9 | 32.8 |
| Under 18 years | 29.7% ±6.4 pts | 30.8% |
| 65 years and over | 10.9% ±4.5 pts | 10.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 5.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±3.1 pts | 8.3% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 91.9% ±5.2 pts | 81.5% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 3.6% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±3.9 pts | 0.7% |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±3.6 pts | 1.2% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 6.4% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.1% ±11.4 pts | 4.7% |
| With a disability | 15.9% ±7.5 pts | 15.4% |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3% ±4.5 pts | 6.6% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.9% ±8.8 pts | 80.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 7.5% ±4.7 pts | 7.4% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.2% ±1.7 pts | 2.0% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.6% ±12.1 pts | 86.7% |
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 Census Tract 3 earn?
Half of the 569 households in Census Tract 3 earn less than $32,238 a year (±$6,791), against $65,425 across Berrien County: 50th highest of the county's 51 tracts with a reliable estimate. 33.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 3 | Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,238 ±$6,791 | $31,117 |
| Mean household income | $35,170 ±$5,156 | $44,753 |
| Per capita income | $13,433 ±$1,769 | $18,667 |
| People below the poverty line | 33.8% ±12.8 pts | 40.1% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.1% ±23.4 pts | 46.8% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 41.1% ±13.7 pts | 50.0% |
| Households with a computer | 89.1% ±6.7 pts | 84.7% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1% ±8.2 pts | 78.6% |
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 Census Tract 3?
Owners occupy 56.8% of Census Tract 3's occupied homes and renters 43.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $38,800 by its owner (±$11,550). The median renter pays $1,006 a month including utilities, and 70.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 3 | Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $38,800 ±$11,550 | $76,500 |
| Median gross rent | $1,006 ±$242 | $851 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 70.7% ±17.8 pts | 59.3% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $776 ±$413 | $942 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.8% ±15.6 pts | 36.7% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.2% ±15.6 pts | 63.3% |
| Housing units | 755 ±142 | 4,239 |
| Single-family detached homes | 84.6% ±7.0 pts | 72.8% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±3.9 pts | 0.5% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±1.5 pts | 0.3% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.3% ±4.0 pts | 4.0% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.5% ±7.2 pts | 30.3% |
| Households with no vehicle | 24.4% ±10.6 pts | 28.4% |
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 Census Tract 3 get to work?
89.3% of Census Tract 3's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 18.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 35.1%.
| Measure | Tract 3 | Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.2% ±7.4 pts | 60.9% |
| Unemployment rate | 35.1% ±14.0 pts | 21.6% |
| Drove alone to work | 89.3% ±9.3 pts | 79.0% |
| Carpooled | 8.8% ±8.7 pts | 10.0% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±7.7 pts | 0.8% |
| Walked | 0.5% ±1.0 pts | 3.5% |
| Worked from home | 1.3% ±2.4 pts | 5.8% |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.3 min ±4.0 | 18.1 min |
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
How does Census Tract 3 compare with the other tracts in Berrien County?
Among Berrien County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 3 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Berrien County | In Benton Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 53 | 5th of 5 |
| Residents per square mile | 21st of 53 | 4th of 5 |
| Median household income | 50th of 51 | 4th of 4 |
| Per capita income | 52nd of 53 | 4th of 5 |
| Median home value | 52nd of 52 | 4th of 4 |
| Median gross rent | 22nd of 48 | 3rd of 4 |
| Poverty rate | 7th of 46 | 4th of 5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46th of 47 | 2nd of 3 |
| Median age | 46th of 52 | 3rd of 4 |
| Owner-occupied share | 43rd of 53 | 2nd of 5 |
The tracts next to it on Berrien County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6 | 47th | $34,781±$8,766 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 21 | 48th | $33,723±$7,373 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 5 | 49th | $33,625±$9,687 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 3 | 50th | $32,238±$6,791 |
| Tract 22 | 51st | $20,132±$9,175 |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 3?
4 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 3 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.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections