Berrien County, MI

County

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2023 Population

153,411

0.342% 1-year decline

US Senator

Gary Peters

Democratic Party

US Senator

Elissa Slotkin

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

42.6

0.235% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

15.2%

3.58% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$63,152

4.59% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$211,400

9.19% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

70,170

1.31% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Berrien County, MI had a population of 153k people with a median age of 42.6 and a median household income of $63,152. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Berrien County, MI declined from 153,938 to 153,411, a −0.342% decrease and its median household income grew from $60,379 to $63,152, a 4.59% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Berrien County, MI are White (Non-Hispanic) (73.2%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (13.4%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.69%), Two+ (Hispanic) (2.08%), and Other (Hispanic) (1.83%).

None of the households in Berrien County, MI reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.2% of the residents in Berrien County, MI are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Berrien County, MI are Andrews University (785 degrees awarded in 2022), Lake Michigan College (387 degrees), and Twin City Beauty College (44 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Berrien County, MI was $211,400, and the homeownership rate was 72.8%.

Most people in Berrien County, MI drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.9 minutes. The average car ownership in Berrien County, MI was 2 cars per household.

Berrien County, MI borders Cook County, IL, Lake County, IL, LaPorte County, IN, Porter County, IN, St. Joseph County, IN, Cass County, MI, and Van Buren County, MI.

United States Michigan Niles-Benton Harbor, MI

Population & Diversity

Berrien County, MI is home to a population of 153k people, from which 97.2% are citizens. As of 2023, 5.4% of Berrien County, MI residents were born outside of the country (8.29k people).

In 2023, there were 5.46 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (112k people) in Berrien County, MI than any other race or ethnicity. There were 20.6k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 7.2k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.2%

2023 Citizenship

97.3%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.2% of Berrien County, MI residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Berrien County, MI was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Berrien County, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Berrien County, MI

White (Non-Hispanic)
112k ± 477
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
20.6k ± 597
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
7.2k ± 734

6.12%

Hispanic Population

9.4k people

6.12% of the people in Berrien County, MI are hispanic (9.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Berrien County, MI as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Michigan.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
79,402 ± 6,891 people
India
76,527 ± 6,766 people
Iraq
57,451 ± 5,868 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Michigan was Mexico, the natal country of 79,402 Michigan residents, followed by India with 76,527 and Iraq with 57,451.

Foreign-Born Population

5.4%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

8.29k people

5.03%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

7.74k people

As of 2023, 5.4% of Berrien County, MI residents (8.29k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Berrien County, MI was 5.03%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Berrien County, MI compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,715 ± 313
Gulf War (2001-)
1,091 ± 198
Gulf War (1990s)
1,074 ± 240

Berrien County, MI has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.49 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Berrien County, MI employs 70.2k people. The largest industries in Berrien County, MI are Manufacturing (13,666 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (10,073 people), and Retail Trade (7,264 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($118,958), Management of Companies & Enterprises ($100,156), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($68,509).

Males in Michigan have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $58,244. The income inequality in Michigan (measured using the Gini index) is 0.466, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

70.2k

2023 Value

± 1,737

−1.31%

1 Year decline

± 3.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Berrien County, MI declined at a rate of −1.31%, from 71.1k employees to 70.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Berrien County, MI, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (8,197 people), Management Occupations (7,672 people), and Production Occupations (6,583 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Berrien County, MI.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Michigan (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

70.2k

2023 Value

± 1,737

−1.31%

1 Year decline

± 3.6%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Berrien County, MI declined at a rate of −1.31%, from 71.1k employees to 70.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Berrien County, MI, are Manufacturing (13,666 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (10,073 people), and Retail Trade (7,264 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Berrien County, MI, though some of these residents may live in Berrien County, MI and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$51,635

Median earning men ± $1,799

$35,328

Median earning women ± $1,106

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($71,953), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($67,721), and Manufacturing ($63,010).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($53,241), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($47,829), and Manufacturing ($45,806).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Y-Axis

2.16%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.37M people employed in Michigan. This represents a 2.16% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 23.6%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Michigan.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

253
Retail Trade
231
Other Services (except Public Administration)
212
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$595k
Manufacturing
$485k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$391k
Management of Companies and Enterprises

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Berrien County, MI went to Donald J. Trump with 52.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (45.4%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (1.29%).

Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin are the senators currently representing the state of Michigan. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Michigan is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (52.8%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (45.4%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (1.29%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Berrien County, MI for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Michigan

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Gary Peters

Senator from Michigan

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Elissa Slotkin

Senator from Michigan

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin are the senators currently representing Michigan.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Michigan over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Michigan

Michigan is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Michigan have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Berrien County, MI awarded 1,216 degrees. The student population of Berrien County, MI in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 2,566 male students and 3,083 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Berrien County, MI are White (512 and 45.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (210 and 18.5%), Black or African American (197 and 17.4%), and Asian (132 and 11.7%).

The largest universities in Berrien County, MI by number of degrees awarded are Andrews University (785 and 64.6%), Lake Michigan College (387 and 31.8%), and Twin City Beauty College (44 and 3.62%).

The most popular majors in Berrien County, MI are Divinity & Ministry (125 and 10.3%), Pastoral Studies & Counseling (90 and 7.4%), and Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (86 and 7.07%).

The median tuition cost in Berrien County, MI for private four year colleges is $31,464.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Berrien County, MI, the percentage of applicants admitted was 91.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 5,649 (45.4% men and 54.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 5,649 students enrolled in Berrien County, MI, 45.4% men and 54.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,383 records, of which 61% were women and 39% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Studies
62 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
29 degrees awarded
Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
86 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Berrien County, MI was General Studies with 62 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Berrien County, MI according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Andrews University
785 degrees awarded
Lake Michigan College
387 degrees awarded
Twin City Beauty College
44 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Andrews University with 785 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 513 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Berrien County, MI, which is 0.73 times less than the 703 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 512 degrees mean that there were 2.44 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 210 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($31,464) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,270) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,800) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Measure

In 2022, 0.784% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.801% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Michigan.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (2.31M), Some college (1.92M), and Bachelors Degree (1.42M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Berrien County, MI was $211,400 in 2023, which is 0.697 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $193,600 to $211,400, a 9.19% increase. The homeownership rate in Berrien County, MI is 72.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Berrien County, MI have an average commute time of 20.9 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Berrien County, MI is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Berrien County, MI is $63,152. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Berrien County, MI was Census Tract 18 with a value of $125,156, followed by Census Tract 17 and Census Tract 11, with respective values of $116,429 and $106,306.

In 2023, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Berrien County, MI. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.791%.

Housing

Property

$211,400

Median Property Value 2023

±$3,842

$46,311

Median Property Taxes

±$1,329

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Berrien County, MI the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Berrien County, MI compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

72.8%

Homeownership

2023

64.8%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 72.8% of the housing units in Berrien County, MI were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 73%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Berrien County, MI compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 18
Census Tract 17
Census Tract 11

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Berrien County, MI was Census Tract 18 with a value of $125,156, followed by Census Tract 17 and Census Tract 11, with respective values of $116,429 and $106,306.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Berrien County, MI colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$63,152

Median Household Income

± $1,945

63.7k

Number of Households

± 1,707

In 2023, the median household income of the 63.7k households in Berrien County, MI grew to $63,152 from the previous year's value of $60,379.

The following chart displays the households in Berrien County, MI distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Berrien County, MI is from Michigan.

0.466

2022 Wage GINI in Michigan

0.468

2021 Wage GINI in Michigan

In 2022, the income inequality in Michigan was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.473% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Michigan was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Michigan in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Michigan across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (77.4%)
Worked At Home (10.2%)
Carpooled (8.18%)

In 2023, 77.4% of workers in Berrien County, MI drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.2%) and those who carpooled to work (8.18%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.9 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Berrien County, MI have a shorter commute time (20.9 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.21% of the workforce in Berrien County, MI have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Berrien County, MI compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Berrien County, MI distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Berrien County, MI have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 14.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Berrien County, MI. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 0.791%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Berrien County, MI (22.8k out of 151k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Berrien County, MI is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 24.3% of the children was living in poverty in Berrien County, MI. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 6.6%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

93.8% of the population of Berrien County, MI has health coverage, with 44% on employee plans, 20.7% on Medicaid, 15.6% on Medicare, 12.8% on non-group plans, and 0.715% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Berrien County, MI see 1234 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.68% decrease from the previous year (1268 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1720 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 359 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,234 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Berrien County, MI

Primary care physicians in Berrien County, MI see an average of 1,234 patients per year. This represents a 2.68% decrease from the previous year (1,268 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Berrien County, MI in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.9% under 18 years, 18.2% between 18 and 34 years, 38.3% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.2% were men and 51.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

6.24%

Uninsured

44%

Employer Coverage

20.7%

Medicaid

15.6%

Medicare

12.8%

Non-Group

0.715%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Berrien County, MI declined by 1.34% from 6.32% to 6.24%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Berrien County, MI changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 60.7 in Berrien County, MI.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Berrien County, MI.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.3% in Berrien County, MI.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Berrien County, MI.