Benton Harbor, MI Demographics
A map of Benton Harbor's Population by Race
Benton Harbor, Michigan has an estimated population of 8,953, a slight decrease from the 9,103 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.5% Black, 8.3% White, 5.8% Hispanic, 3.6% Multiracial, 0.7% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Benton Harbor, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Benton Harbor has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Michigan overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Benton Harbor, that probability was 29.9% in 2020 and 32.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Benton Harbor is ranked the 113th most populous place in Michigan, out of 745 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Benton Harbor was ranked the 112th most populous place in the 2020 Census.
Benton Harbor's White Population
747 residents of Benton Harbor, or 8.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Benton Harbor is significantly lower than in Michigan overall, where 72.4% of the population is White. Benton Harbor ranks 744th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's White population has grown by an estimated 10.0%. White residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has increased from 7.5% to 8.3%.
Benton Harbor is less White than neighboring Fair Plain (48.1% White), Benton Heights (24% White), St. Joseph (83.7% White), Shoreham (70.9% White), and Millburg (84.7% White).
Benton Harbor's Black Population
7,296 residents of Benton Harbor, or 81.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Benton Harbor is significantly higher than in Michigan overall, where 13.1% of the population is Black. Benton Harbor ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's Black population has declined by an estimated 3.6%. Black residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has decreased from 83.1% to 81.5%.
Benton Harbor is more Black than neighboring Fair Plain (37.6% Black), Benton Heights (50.8% Black), St. Joseph (4.5% Black), Shoreham (2.9% Black), and Millburg (10.2% Black).
Benton Harbor's Asian Population
0 residents of Benton Harbor, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Benton Harbor is slightly lower than in Michigan overall, where 3.4% of the population is Asian. Benton Harbor ranks 553rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.
Benton Harbor is less Asian than neighboring Fair Plain (1.2% Asian), Benton Heights (0.7% Asian), St. Joseph (1.7% Asian), and Shoreham (10.4% Asian).
Benton Harbor's Hispanic Population
521 residents of Benton Harbor, or 5.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Benton Harbor is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 5.9% of the population is Hispanic. Benton Harbor ranks 180th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 11.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has increased from 5.1% to 5.8%.
Benton Harbor is more Hispanic than neighboring Fair Plain (5.5% Hispanic), St. Joseph (5.2% Hispanic), Shoreham (0.7% Hispanic), and Millburg (1.2% Hispanic). Benton Harbor is less Hispanic than neighboring Benton Heights (18.7% Hispanic).
Benton Harbor's Native American/Other Population
63 residents of Benton Harbor, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Benton Harbor is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Benton Harbor ranks 333rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 13.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.
Benton Harbor is more Native American/Other than neighboring St. Joseph (0.5% Native American/Other), Shoreham (0% Native American/Other), and Millburg (0% Native American/Other). Benton Harbor is less Native American/Other than neighboring Fair Plain (1.1% Native American/Other), and Benton Heights (1.9% Native American/Other).
Benton Harbor's Multiracial Population
326 residents of Benton Harbor, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Benton Harbor is comparable to the share in Michigan overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Benton Harbor ranks 542nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 745 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Benton Harbor's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 7.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Benton Harbor's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.6%.
Benton Harbor is less Multiracial than neighboring Fair Plain (6.5% Multiracial), Benton Heights (3.8% Multiracial), St. Joseph (4.4% Multiracial), Shoreham (15.1% Multiracial), and Millburg (3.9% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.