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CITY

Benton Harbor

Michigan · 8,803 residents (2025 est.) · 4.381 sq mi
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Part of the Niles metro area
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Notable rankings
#178Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-9.3%
The short version

Benton Harbor has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,117. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 2,229 residents. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $76,500. At a median age of 32.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 57% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,953
−20%since 2000
from 11,182 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,044 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 2,552 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.8
+29%since 2000
from 25.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,803 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K10K11K12K13K1990201020202024Benton Harbor
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,117
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,471 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,667
+108%since 2000
from $8,965 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
12.1%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
40.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 42.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.516
+13%since 2010
from 0.456 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade2.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$76,500
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$851
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
36.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
63.3% rent
Vacancy rate
14.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
63.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+11%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Benton Harbor on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic5.4%(600)
Black92.1%(10,303)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(65)
Asian0.1%(15)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.6%(1,635)
2024
White, non-Hispanic8.3%(747)
Black81.5%(7,296)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(521)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.3%(389)
Diversity Score40.5%(3,622)
Diversity Score
40
+177%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.0%
+19.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.1 min
+55%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
28.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
21.6%
−8.2 ptssince 2011
from 29.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2011
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
16.6%
−54.1 ptssince 2009
from 70.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
Female
54.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−36.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
−5.7 ptssince 2012
from 21.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.6%
+24.0 ptssince 2017
from 54.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.3%
+4.9 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Benton Harbor to nearby cities

BENTON HARBOR VS
Niles
Income$51,376+65%
Home value$135,100+77%
Population11,665+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON HARBOR VS
Granger
Income$123,318+296%
Home value$331,100+333%
Population30,321+244%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON HARBOR VS
South Bend
Income$55,786+79%
Home value$140,400+84%
Population103,201+1072%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BENTON HARBOR VS
Mishawaka
Income$54,291+74%
Home value$155,500+103%
Population51,226+482%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

Benton Harbor, Michigan has about 8,953 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

The typical household in Benton Harbor, Michigan earns about $31,117 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Benton Harbor, Michigan expensive?

In Benton Harbor, Michigan, the median home is worth about $76,500, and the typical rent is about $851 a month.

How educated are people in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

About 7.4% of adults age 25 and over in Benton Harbor, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

About 40.1% of people in Benton Harbor, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Benton Harbor, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Benton Harbor, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,865 residents, a change of about -30 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →