The Town FilesBenton Harbor, Michigan
City in Berrien County · population 9,103 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $76,500
- Household income
- $31,117
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 32.8
Benton Harbor is a city of 9,103 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $76,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Benton Harbor ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benton Harbor is worth $76,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $31,117, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 36.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton Harbor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $76,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $851 | $955 |
| Median household income | $31,117 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 36.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Benton Harbor
| People | Benton Harbor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Benton Harbor
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton Harbor since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2010 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 2, 1997.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Benton Harbor itself the ACS puts it at 21.6%.
Public schools in Benton Harbor
13 public schools with 3,076 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor High School | 9-12 | 506 | 15.3 |
| Benton Harbor Charter School Academy (charter) | PK-9 | 455 | 17.5 |
| Countryside Academy Elementary (charter) | K-5 | 380 | 20.0 |
| Countryside Academy MiddleHigh School (charter) | 2-12 | 372 | 16.2 |
| Fair Plain Middle School | 6-8 | 249 | 13.1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr Elementary | 1-3 | 234 | 10.6 |
| Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-8 | 215 | 19.5 |
| Sister Lakes Elementary School | K-5 | 168 | 14.0 |
| Fair Plain East Elementary | 4-5 | 166 | 11.9 |
| Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan (charter) | 9-12 | 121 | 12.1 |
| Discovery Enrichment Center | PK-K | 86 | 7.2 |
| Riverside School | PK-8 | 73 | 14.6 |
Towns near Benton Harbor
- Benton Heights, MI1.8 mi · 3,652 people · home $97,700
- Fair Plain, MI2.2 mi · 7,402 people · home $169,400
- St. Joseph, MI2.3 mi · 7,856 people · home $299,000
- Benton, MI2.6 mi · 14,374 people · home $148,700
- St. Joseph, MI3.5 mi · 9,993 people · home $248,900
- Hagar, MI6.6 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
- Royalton, MI6.6 mi · 5,141 people · home $356,700
- Lincoln, MI7.4 mi · 14,929 people · home $299,100
Benton Harbor questions
Is Benton Harbor, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton Harbor scores better for retirees than 0% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Benton Harbor?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton Harbor is valued at $76,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,117, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton Harbor?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 77.7 inches of snow.
Does Benton Harbor get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton Harbor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2010. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)