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CITY · 2010 ACS

Benton Harbor

Michigan · 10,038 residents · 4.38 sq mi
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The short version

Benton Harbor is home to 10,038 people in Michigan. 48.7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 34% of the housing stock. The median age is 28.3, younger than the US median of 37.2. Households here earn about 64% less than in Michigan as a whole. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 28% national rate.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 28.3
US median: 37.2
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

10,038
−10%since 2000
from 11,182 in 2000
1990 – 2025
28.3
+11%since 2000
from 25.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
4.38 sq mi
Population, 19902024
9K10K11K12K13K19902000201020202024Benton Harbor
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 510.5%(1,059)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 99.4%(945)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 149.6%(967)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 199.3%(937)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.7%(673)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3413%(1,301)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4411.5%(1,159)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5412.9%(1,297)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 649.2%(925)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 744.4%(437)
US avg: 7%
75 to 842.6%(265)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over0.7%(73)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$17,301
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,471 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
$9,529
+6%since 2000
from $8,965 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
4.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
48.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 42.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
0.456
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade18.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Information13.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Finance & insurance2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services1.7%
US avg: 7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2.4%
Wholesale trade1.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 3.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$61,400
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
$512
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $853
33.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
66.5% rent
21.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.74 people
+5%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
34.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
67.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
3.5
+9%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic5.4%(600)
Black92.1%(10,303)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(65)
Asian0.1%(15)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic6.4%(641)
Black88.7%(8,899)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(220)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other2.2%(217)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(103)
Ancestry
German4.9%(504)
English1.7%(174)
Dutch0.9%(89)
West Indian0.5%(54)
Jamaican0.5%(54)
American0.5%(52)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(48)
Irish0.4%(46)
French0.2%(24)
Polish0.2%(19)
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.1%(11)
Swedish0.1%(11)
Section 05

Education

6.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
70.6%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 60.5% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
3.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

14.2 min
+22%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
76.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
15.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
2.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
2.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
2.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
28.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

13.2%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
13.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

46.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
53.8%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
1.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
6.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married55.1%(1,638)
Married23.4%(696)
Widowed1.7%(51)
Divorced19.8%(588)
Women 15+
Never married57.5%(2,159)
Married24%(900)
Widowed4.2%(158)
Divorced14.3%(538)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.6%
−9.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
23.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 22.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
14.1%
−9.1 ptssince 2020
from 23.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
65.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2020
from 60.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
28.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 30.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
72.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)10.3%(30)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)44.5%(130)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era4.1%(12)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 292 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

Benton Harbor, Michigan has about 10,038 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Benton Harbor, Michigan earns about $17,301 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 $61,400, and the typical rent is about $512 a month.

How educated are people in Benton Harbor, Michigan?

About 6.5% 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 48.7% 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 2,780 residents, a change of about -22 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 →