Berrien County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Berrien County, Michigan has a population of 153,411, the 16th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $63,152 and the median home value is $211,400. The poverty rate is 15.2%.

Berrien County Quick Facts

Population 153,411

Median Household Income $63,152

Median Home Value $211,400

Poverty Rate 15.2%

Unemployment Rate 6.5%

Median Age 42.6 years

Homeownership Rate 72.8%

Affordability Ratio 3.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 30.3%

High School Graduation 92.3%

Cities/Places 7

Population 153,411 16th of 83

Median Income $63,152 11% lower state

Poverty Rate 15.2%

Unemployment 6.5%

Median Household Income

Berrien

$63,152

$71,149

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Berrien

$211,400

$217,600

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.6%

$25K-$50K 21.5%

$50K-$100K 29.2%

$100K+ 30.8%

Employment

6.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8% | National: 5.2%

60.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.8%

Renter 27.2%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.3x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.6%

18-34

19.4%

35-54

23.8%

55-74

26.8%

75+

8.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 44 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Berrien County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Benton Harbor city	9,023	$29,652	41.9%	$75,500
St. Joseph city	7,805	$77,765	7.1%	$271,100
Buchanan city	4,259	$54,068	6.7%	$138,400
Bridgman city	2,383	$71,435	11.7%	$228,800
Watervliet city	1,879	$57,477	18.2%	$130,000
New Buffalo city	1,306	$64,524	10.0%	$342,700
Coloma city	1,051	$62,778	7.4%	$160,400

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Berrien County is located in Michigan with a total population of 153,411. It is the 16th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Berrien County is 42.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Berrien County is $63,152. This is 11% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.2%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $211,400. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 72.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Berrien County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.4%.

Education

30.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.3%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Berrien County, Michigan?

Berrien County has a population of 153,411, making it the 16th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Berrien County?

The median household income in Berrien County is $63,152 with a poverty rate of 15.2%.

How many cities are in Berrien County, Michigan?

Berrien County contains 7 Census-designated places.