Census tract · Berrien County
Census Tract 21, Berrien County, Michigan
Census Tract 21, GEOID 26021002100, in Berrien County, Michigan, mostly within Benton Charter Township (94% of its census blocks). 2,670 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±447); the 2020 Census counted 2,605.
Residents, 2020-2024
2,670
±447 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 2,605
Median household income
$33,723
±$7,373 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $65,425
Median home value
$102,300
±$39,074 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $224,300
Median gross rent
$933
±$121 (90% margin)
Berrien County: $942
Where is Census Tract 21?
Census Tract 21 is one of 54 census tracts in Berrien County, Michigan. It covers 2.92 square miles of land, 892 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 26021002100, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Benton Charter Township | 94% |
| Fair Plain | 38% |
| Benton Heights | 10% |
| Sodus Township | 6% |
6 census tracts border Census Tract 21: Tract 3 ($32,238), Tract 6 ($34,781), Tract 19 ($78,996), Tract 20 ($37,068), Tract 22 ($20,132) and Tract 24 ($62,526). 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 21?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 21's population at 2,670 (±447) in 992 households; the 2020 Census counted 2,605 residents and 1,188 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Benton Charter Township |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,670 ±447 | 14,234 |
| Households | 992 ±137 | 6,319 |
| Average household size | 2.64 ±0.40 | 2.23 |
| Housing units | 1,028 ±136 | 6,937 |
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 21?
The median resident of Census Tract 21 is 26.4 years old; 37.5% are under 18 and 13.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 58.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 28.4%.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Benton Charter Township |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.4 ±4.8 | 35.7 |
| Under 18 years | 37.5% ±8.2 pts | 26.8% |
| 65 years and over | 13.9% ±4.1 pts | 15.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.3% ±6.6 pts | 8.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 28.4% ±10.3 pts | 38.8% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 58.5% ±10.3 pts | 46.3% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7% ±5.5 pts | 5.8% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±3.8 pts | 3.9% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±5.7 pts | 6.9% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.6% ±1.5 pts | 5.8% |
| With a disability | 12.9% ±5.9 pts | 14.9% |
| No health insurance coverage | 17.0% ±7.7 pts | 10.2% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.4% ±8.5 pts | 85.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 8.9% ±6.4 pts | 16.8% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.4% ±4.8 pts | 6.9% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.4% ±6.2 pts | 91.5% |
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 21 earn?
Half of the 992 households in Census Tract 21 earn less than $33,723 a year (±$7,373), against $65,425 across Berrien County: 48th highest of the county's 51 tracts with a reliable estimate. 36.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Benton Charter Township |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $33,723 ±$7,373 | $38,688 |
| Mean household income | $40,833 ±$10,910 | $54,759 |
| Per capita income | $15,249 ±$3,247 | $24,610 |
| People below the poverty line | 36.9% ±15.4 pts | 33.1% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.5% ±23.5 pts | 48.1% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 54.2% ±11.5 pts | 35.7% |
| Households with a computer | 92.4% ±4.0 pts | 94.3% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.9% ±4.4 pts | 91.6% |
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 21?
Owners occupy 29.6% of Census Tract 21's occupied homes and renters 70.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $102,300 by its owner (±$39,074). The median renter pays $933 a month including utilities, and 52.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Benton Charter Township |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $102,300 ±$39,074 | $148,700 |
| Median gross rent | $933 ±$121 | $892 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.0% ±19.0 pts | 48.1% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $919 ±$164 | $1,180 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 29.6% ±10.6 pts | 56.5% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 70.4% ±10.6 pts | 43.5% |
| Housing units | 1,028 ±136 | 6,937 |
| Single-family detached homes | 34.7% ±10.9 pts | 66.1% |
| Mobile homes | 16.7% ±11.2 pts | 4.8% |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.2% ±5.2 pts | 1.2% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.1% ±3.5 pts | 2.9% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.8% ±7.7 pts | 11.7% |
| Households with no vehicle | 35.1% ±15.1 pts | 17.2% |
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 21 get to work?
82.2% of Census Tract 21's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 15.0 minutes.
| Measure | Tract 21 | Benton Charter Township |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.4% ±8.5 pts | 60.7% |
| Unemployment rate | 11.1% ±10.6 pts | 12.1% |
| Drove alone to work | 82.2% ±12.1 pts | 80.1% |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±9.5 pts | 10.0% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.1 pts | 0.9% |
| Walked | 0.4% ±1.6 pts | 1.3% |
| Worked from home | 6.0% ±9.0 pts | 6.3% |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.0 min ±4.0 | 18.3 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 21 compare with the other tracts in Berrien County?
Among Berrien County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 21 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Berrien County |
|---|---|
| Population | 26th of 53 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th of 53 |
| Median household income | 48th of 51 |
| Per capita income | 51st of 53 |
| Median home value | 47th of 52 |
| Median gross rent | 29th of 48 |
| Poverty rate | 4th of 46 |
| Median age | 52nd of 52 |
| Owner-occupied share | 50th of 53 |
The tracts next to it on Berrien County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 23 | 45th | $38,381±$8,275 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 20 | 46th | $37,068±$3,819 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 6 | 47th | $34,781±$8,766 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 21 | 48th | $33,723±$7,373 |
| Tract 5 | 49th | $33,625±$9,687 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 3 | 50th | $32,238±$6,791 · within the margin of this tract |
| 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 21?
4 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 21 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