United States › Michigan › Benton Harbor CITY · 2020 ACS
Benton Harbor Michigan · 9,103 residents · 4.38 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Benton Harbor is home to 9,103 people in Michigan. 44.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 33% of the housing stock. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Households here earn about 63% less than in Michigan as a whole. The median age is 31.8, younger than the US median of 38.8.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 25.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K 10K 11K 12K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Benton Harbor Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $21,947
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $17,471 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $8,965 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 42.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 3.5%
Public administration 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Education & health services 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
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$59,000
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$661
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 38.0% in 2000
66.6% rent
2.19 people
−16%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.3 in 2009
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-Hispanic 5.4%(600)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(65)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 7.5%(679)
Hispanic / Latino 5.1%(467)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 60.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 2.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 75.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 29.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 55.1%(1,638)
Women 15+
Never married 57.5%(2,159)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 3%(11)
Gulf War (1990s) 40.7%(147)
Share of the 361 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Benton Harbor, Michigan? Benton Harbor, Michigan has about 9,103 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Benton Harbor, Michigan? The typical household in Benton Harbor, Michigan earns about $21,947 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 $59,000, and the typical rent is about $661 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 44.9% 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 3,715 residents, a change of about -29 percent over that period.
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