The Town FilesNiles, Michigan
City in Berrien County · population 11,988 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $135,100
- Household income
- $51,376
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.2
Niles is a city of 11,988 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $135,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns, hipper than 93% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Niles 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 Niles is worth $135,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $51,376, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Niles | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $855 | $955 |
| Median household income | $51,376 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Niles
| People | Niles | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Niles
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niles since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 2001 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 17, 1963.
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 Niles itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Niles
16 public schools with 4,613 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niles Senior High School | 9-12 | 827 | 20.2 |
| HowardEllis Elementary School | K-5 | 598 | 18.7 |
| Ballard Elementary School | PK-5 | 576 | 21.3 |
| Ring Lardner Middle School | 6-8 | 537 | 19.2 |
| Eastside Connections School | K-8 | 430 | 20.5 |
| Brandywine Senior High School | 9-12 | 378 | 17.2 |
| Brandywine Elementary School | 3-6 | 376 | 16.3 |
| Merritt Elementary School | PK-2 | 320 | 16.0 |
| Brandywine Middle School | 7-8 | 177 | 17.7 |
| Niles Cedar Lane | 9-12 | 119 | 23.8 |
| WAY Niles | 6-12 | 108 | — |
| Brandywine Innovation Academy | 6-12 | 70 | 35.0 |
Towns near Niles
- Niles, MI2.2 mi · 14,417 people · home $173,100
- Howard, MI4.4 mi · 6,275 people · home $200,000
- Milton, MI4.8 mi · 3,128 people · home $299,600
- Buchanan, MI6.1 mi · 4,300 people · home $154,300
- Bertrand, MI6.9 mi · 2,611 people · home $297,100
- Berrien, MI7.5 mi · 4,868 people · home $252,500
- Buchanan, MI7.6 mi · 3,436 people · home $194,000
- Granger, IN8.9 mi · 30,337 people · home $331,100
Niles questions
Is Niles, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Niles scores better for retirees than 17% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Niles?
The median owner-occupied home in Niles is valued at $135,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,376, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Niles?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 62.5 inches of snow.
Does Niles get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Niles since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 2001. 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)