Benton Harbor, MI
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Benton Harbor, Michigan Summary

Life in Benton Harbor research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Benton Harbor over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Benton Harbor:

  • The population in Benton Harbor is 9,023.

  • The median home value in Benton Harbor is $154,182.

  • The median income in Benton Harbor is $29,652.

  • The cost of living in Benton Harbor is 78 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Benton Harbor is $775.

  • The unemployment rate in Benton Harbor is 20.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Benton Harbor is 41.9%.

  • The average high in Benton Harbor is 58.4° and the average low is 40.2°.

Benton Harbor SnackAbility

2
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
2/10
Housing
3
Affordability
5
Diversity
7
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
3
Commute
9.5

Benton Harbor, MI Crime Report

Crime in Benton Harbor summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Benton Harbor. Key points include:

  • There were 649 total crimes in Benton Harbor in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Benton Harbor is 7,371.6 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Benton Harbor is 1,874.1 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Benton Harbor is 5,497.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Benton Harbor is 247.85% above the national average.

649
Total Crimes
247.85%
Above National Average

Crime In Benton Harbor Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Benton Harbor
/ 100k People
Michigan
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 649 7,371.6 1,813.2 2,119.2
Violent Crime 165 1,874.1 434.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 5.2 5.0
Robbery 14 159.0 31.3 61.0
Aggravated Assault 145 1,647.0 341.3 256.0
Property Crime 484 5,497.5 1,378.9 1,760.0
Burglary 72 817.8 184.2 229.0
Larceny 278 3,157.7 963.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 134 1,522.0 231.0 259.0

Benton Harbor, MI Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Benton Harbor summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Benton Harbor. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Michigan. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Benton Harbor is 78 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Benton Harbor is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Benton Harbor is $154,182.

  • The median income in Benton Harbor is $29,652.

78
Benton Harbor's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Benton Harbor Comparison Table

Living Expense Benton Harbor Michigan National Average
Overall 78 90 100
Services 86 93 100
Groceries 96 97 100
Health 82 91 100
Housing 42 72 100
Transportation 95 96 100
Utilities 108 99 100

Benton Harbor, MI Weather

  • The average high in Benton Harbor is 58.4° and the average low is 40.2°.

  • There are 80.5 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 38.2 inches of precipitation each year with 73.1 inches of snow.

StatBenton Harbor
Average Annual High58.4
Average Annual Low40.2
Annual Precipitation Days80.5
Average Annual Precipitation38.2
Average Annual Snowfall73.1
58.4°
Average High
80.5
Days of Rain

Benton Harbor, MI Photos

Main Street Downtown Benton Harbor
Source: Wikipedia User Humbles Art | CC BY-SA 3.0
Benton Harbor City Hall
Source: Wikipedia User Humbles Art | GFDL
The Morton House
Source: Wikipedia User Humbles Art | CC BY-SA 3.0
The Arts District
Source: Wikipedia User Humbles Art | CC BY-SA 3.0

1 Reviews & Comments About Benton Harbor

Overall User Rating
4.0
/5

Herban - None

I live in Benton Harbor, it really isn't that bad here. The massive Whirlpool corporation is headquartered here, and they're investing money into the city. It will be a decent place in the coming decades.

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Benton Harbor in Michigan

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Map Of Benton Harbor, MI

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Benton Harbor Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Benton Harbor

The current population in Benton Harbor is 9,023. The population has decreased -12.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 9,023 -0.9%
2022 9,101 -0.8%
2021 9,171 -6.5%
2020 9,806 -0.4%
2019 9,843 -0.8%
2018 9,920 -0.2%
2017 9,944 -0.4%
2016 9,988 -0.3%
2015 10,014 -0.4%
2014 10,056 0.0%
2013 10,054 -0.6%
2012 10,113 -0.6%
2011 10,173 -0.8%
2010 10,256 -

Race / Ethnicity in Benton Harbor

White
9.3% (837)
African American
80.2% (7,233)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
0.0% (0)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
1.4% (124)
Two Or More
3.7% (331)
Hispanic
5.5% (498)

Benton Harbor is:

  • 9.3% White with 837 White residents.

  • 80.2% African American with 7,233 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 0.0% Asian with 0 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 1.4% Other with 124 Other residents.

  • 3.7% Two Or More with 331 Two Or More residents.

  • 5.5% Hispanic with 498 Hispanic residents.

Race Benton Harbor MI USA
White 9.3% 73.0% 58.2%
African American 80.2% 13.2% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.3% 0.5%
Asian 0.0% 3.3% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 1.4% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 3.7% 4.1% 3.9%
Hispanic 5.5% 5.7% 19.0%

Gender in Benton Harbor

Female
53.4% (4,815)
Male
46.6% (4,208)
  • Benton Harbor is 53.4% female with 4,815 female residents.

  • Benton Harbor is 46.6% male with 4,208 male residents.

Gender Benton Harbor MI USA
Female 53.4% 50.4% 50.5%
Male 46.6% 49.6% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Benton Harbor for adults over 25

  • 3.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed < 9th grade.

  • 15.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed 9-12th grade.

  • 37.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed high school / ged.

  • 30.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed associate's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed bachelor's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed master's degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Benton Harbor completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
3.0% (270)
9-12th Grade
15.0% (1,353)
High School / GED
37.0% (3,338)
Some College
30.0% (2,706)
Associate's Degree
7.0% (631)
Bachelor's Degree
5.0% (451)
Master's Degree
2.0% (180)
Professional Degree
0.0% (0)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (90)
Education Benton Harbor MI USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 15.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 37.0% 28.0% 26.0%
Some College 30.0% 22.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 5.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 2.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Benton Harbor, Michigan

  • 12.1% of households in Benton Harbor earn Less than $10,000.

  • 18.7% of households in Benton Harbor earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 13.6% of households in Benton Harbor earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 13.0% of households in Benton Harbor earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 17.0% of households in Benton Harbor earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 11.2% of households in Benton Harbor earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 5.4% of households in Benton Harbor earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 5.2% of households in Benton Harbor earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 2.0% of households in Benton Harbor earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 1.9% of households in Benton Harbor earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
12.1% (109,318)
$10,000 to $14,999
18.7% (168,683)
$15,000 to $24,999
13.6% (122,832)
$25,000 to $34,999
13.0% (117,040)
$35,000 to $49,999
17.0% (153,480)
$50,000 to $74,999
11.2% (100,872)
$75,000 to $99,999
5.4% (48,505)
$100,000 to $149,999
5.2% (46,816)
$150,000 to $199,999
2.0% (17,857)
$200,000 or more
1.9% (16,892)
Income Benton Harbor MI USA
Less than $10,000 12.1% 5.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 18.7% 3.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 13.6% 7.1% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 13.0% 7.6% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 17.0% 11.8% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 11.2% 16.9% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 5.4% 13.4% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 5.2% 16.9% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 2.0% 8.3% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 1.9% 9.0% 12.6%

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