Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Benton Harbor, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

8,953

Median Agei

32.8

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

81.5%7,296

White

8.3%747

Hispanic/Latino

5.8%521

Two or More

3.6%326

Other

0.7%60

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%3

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

8%435

High School Diploma

29.4%1,604

Some College (<1 yr)

13%712

Some College (1+ yr)

16.2%886

Associate's Degree

5.9%324

Bachelor's Degree

5.4%297

Master's Degree

1.6%90

Doctorate

0.3%19

HS or Higher

80%

BA or Higher

7.4%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$76,500

Median Renti

$851

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

36.7%1,329

Renter-Occupied

63.3%2,295

Total Units

4,239

Homeownership

36.7%

Vacancy Rate

14.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

26.2%348

$50K–$100K

34.8%462

$100K–$150K

16.7%222

$150K–$200K

9.6%127

$200K–$300K

5.6%74

$300K–$500K

3.6%48

$500K–$1M

3.6%48

Rent Distribution

Under $500

426

$500–$750

496

$750–$1,000

412

$1,000–$1,250

313

$1,250–$1,500

467

$1,500–$2,000

104

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%14

2010–2019

4%170

2000–2009

8.1%342

1990–1999

1.6%68

1980–1989

4.8%203

1970–1979

11.7%496

1960–1969

11%465

1950–1959

20.9%884

1940–1949

7.4%313

1939 or earlier

30.3%1,284

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

74.7%2,706

Electricity

20.8%755

Bottled/LP Gas

3%110

No Fuel

1.5%53

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$31,117

Mean Household Incomei

$44,753

Per Capita Incomei

$18,667

Poverty Ratei

39.7%

Unemploymenti

21.6%

Labor Forcei

3,975

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

11.3%410

$10K–$15K

18.4%666

$15K–$20K

4.2%151

$20K–$25K

8.3%299

$25K–$30K

5.4%194

$30K–$35K

8.9%323

$35K–$40K

12.1%437

$40K–$45K

4.6%165

$45K–$50K

3.2%115

$50K–$60K

2.4%88

$60K–$75K

9.3%336

$75K–$100K

3.6%129

$100K–$125K

3.4%124

$125K–$150K

2%73

$150K–$200K

2%73

$200K+

1.1%41

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1111.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

2,981

Avg. Commutei

18.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

3,116

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

292(4.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.4%Insured

6.6%Uninsured