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CITY · 2020 ACS

Buena Vista

Michigan · 5,855 residents · 4.00 sq mi
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The short version

Buena Vista is a city of 5,855 people in Michigan. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $39,200. Households here earn about 41% less than in Michigan as a whole. The foreign-born share is 0%. The poverty rate is 23.1%, above the 12.8% national rate.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 23%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

5,855
−25%since 2000
from 7,845 in 2000
1990 – 2024
37.9
+15%since 2000
from 33.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
4.00 sq mi
Population, 19902024
6K6K7K8K8K19902000201020202024Buena Vista
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 58.7%(509)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(432)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.2%(420)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.1%(415)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(298)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.6%(681)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.5%(612)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(691)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412%(701)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.2%(657)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845%(294)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(145)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$34,884
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,689 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$18,264
+28%since 2000
from $14,243 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
8.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
23.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 22.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade22.3%
US avg: 10%
Information14.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food3.7%
US avg: 2%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.5%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$39,200
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$848
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $476 in 2000
US average: $1,124
52.1%
−19.0 ptssince 2000
from 71.2% in 2000
47.9% rent
2.24 people
−2%since 2009
from 2.28 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.1
−49%since 2009
from 2.2 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-Hispanic19.4%(1,519)
Black68.6%(5,384)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(770)
Asian0.2%(13)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic13.2%(770)
Black72.6%(4,249)
Hispanic / Latino9.3%(542)
Asian0.2%(13)
Other2%(116)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.7%(493)
Spaniard0.8%(53)
Ancestry
German5.4%(347)
American3%(192)
Irish1.7%(110)
English0.5%(31)
Hungarian0.5%(31)
Polish0.4%(26)
Swedish0.3%(20)
Italian0.2%(16)
Scottish0.1%(8)
French0%(2)
Section 05

Education

5.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
85.6%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
2.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.0 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
80.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
16.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

13.4%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 22.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
51.7%
+8.3 ptssince 2011
from 43.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.7%
US average: 73.3%
18.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

45.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
55.0%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.2%
−9.3 ptssince 2013
from 14.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
81.3%
US average: 91.9%
85.4%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married41.8%(800)
Married29%(554)
Widowed10.6%(202)
Divorced18.6%(356)
Women 15+
Never married36.8%(966)
Married30.2%(792)
Widowed9.2%(242)
Divorced23.8%(624)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.2%
−9.3 ptssince 2013
from 14.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
52.6%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
7.6%
US average: 13.7%
22.2%
US average: 17.6%
41.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
0.8%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
56.4%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
57.3%
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)8.2%(27)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)8.2%(27)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era43.6%(144)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.1%(30)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 330 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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Buena Vista, Michigan?

Buena Vista, Michigan has about 5,855 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buena Vista, Michigan?

The typical household in Buena Vista, Michigan earns about $34,884 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buena Vista, Michigan expensive?

In Buena Vista, Michigan, the median home is worth about $39,200, and the typical rent is about $848 a month.

How educated are people in Buena Vista, Michigan?

About 5.6% of adults age 25 and over in Buena Vista, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buena Vista, Michigan?

About 23.1% of people in Buena Vista, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buena Vista, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Buena Vista, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,311 residents, a change of about -28 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 →