Map the Block › Places › Michigan › Berrien County
What are the crime rate and median income in Berrien County, Michigan?
Berrien County averaged 5.2 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 14% higher than the Michigan rate (4.5). The median household earns $65,425 and the unemployment rate was 4.8% in August 2026. It is home to roughly 153,288 residents.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Berrien County?
From 2021 through 2025, Berrien County averaged 787 reported violent crimes a year, along with 2,633 property crimes. That is 5.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 14% higher than the Michigan rate (4.5), and 40% higher than the U.S. rate (3.7). For property crime the county rate is 17.2 per 1,000 (Michigan: 14.3; U.S.: 18.1). Most violent crimes here are aggravated assaults (79%). CDC death records show about 11 homicide deaths a year in the county (7.3 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Berrien County | Per 1,000 | Michigan per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 787 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 8 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 105 | 0.69 | 0.61 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 49 | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 625 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 2,633 | 17.2 | 14.3 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 336 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,973 | 12.9 | 10.0 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 325 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (19 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Berrien County?
The median household in Berrien County earns $65,425 a year, 10% lower than the Michigan median ($72,875). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $224,300 by its owners; renters pay a median $942. 14.2% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 13.5%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.8% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 3,454 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Berrien County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 153,288 | 10,077,761 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $65,425 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $224,300 | $231,600 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $942 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 15.1% | 13.2% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 14.2% | 13.5% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 32.4% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 72.8% | 73.2% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.2 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 89.3% | 90.5% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 6.4% | 4.9% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Berrien County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Berrien County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. None of the seven hazards on our map (floods, wildfire, tornadoes, heat, earthquakes, hurricanes) is rated above “Relatively Moderate” here. The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
4 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Berrien County: Aircraft Components (D & L Sales), Electrovoice, Bendix Corp./Allied Automotive and U.S. Aviex. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
Berrien County has 2 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. None is rated Poor or Unsatisfactory; 2 are rated Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Berrien Springs Dam (36 ft) and Buchanan (23 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
21 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 69,451 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
No federal major disaster declaration covered Berrien County from 2016 through 2025 (COVID-19 excluded). EPA air monitors logged 1 day in 2024 when the air quality index reached “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse. Of 41 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 3 (low). NHTSA counted 17 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 2 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Berrien County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 22 highway work zones in Berrien County (13 active that day). Roads listed: M-139, I-94 and US-31. 10 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Berrien County?
Federal school lists show 74 public and 13 private schools in the county. 7 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 30 fire or EMS stations and 22 police or sheriff stations. 3 state parks or recreation areas: Grand Mere State Park, Warren Dunes State Park and Warren Woods State Park.
What tribal lands and sacred sites are in Berrien County?
Census tribal areas that reach into Berrien County: Pokagon Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land.
Tribal areas are Census statistical boundaries, shown for reference; they are not legal boundaries.
See them on the map: tribal lands →
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Berrien County
Gun shops
5 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Berrien County, plus 24 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). On the ATF list: River Valley Outdoor Sports LLC (Three Oaks), Tech Nickel (Benton Harbor), Village Do It Best Hardware (Berrien Spgs), Walmart #2010 (Niles) and Watervliet Rod & Gun Club INC (Watervliet).
Liquor stores
19 liquor stores are on the map in Berrien County: 7 Days Party Place (Niles), A and D Liquor Corner (Benton Harbor), Angelo's Coloma Party Store (Coloma), Berrien and Springs Liquor and Party Store (Berrien Twp), J & B Party Store (Benton Harbor), Jot Liquor Inc (Watervliet), Lakeside Liquor (Stevensville), Lambrecht's Liquor Store (St Joseph) and 11 more. Michigan has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center in Berrien County on the map.
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Berrien County?
Berrien County averaged 787 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 5.2 per 1,000 residents, 14% higher than the Michigan rate (4.5). The property-crime rate was 17.2 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Berrien County?
$65,425 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $72,875 for Michigan and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Berrien County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.8% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 3,454 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Berrien County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Berrien County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. None of the seven hazards on our map (floods, wildfire, tornadoes, heat, earthquakes, hurricanes) is rated above “Relatively Moderate” here.
Are there Superfund sites in Berrien County?
4 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Berrien County: Aircraft Components (D & L Sales), Electrovoice, Bendix Corp./Allied Automotive and U.S. Aviex.
Is there road construction in Berrien County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 22 highway work zones in Berrien County (13 active that day). Roads listed: M-139, I-94 and US-31. 10 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Berrien County?
7 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Berrien County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 51,520 | 2.4 | $70,443 |
| LaPorte County, IN | 111,917 | 2.2 | $71,055 |
| St. Joseph County, IN | 273,040 | 4.9 | $66,868 |
| Van Buren County | 75,795 | 2.9 | $68,114 |
More: Michigan statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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