Berrien County, Michigan
Among the top 16% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 40% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 32% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 22% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 84% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 49% of US counties
- top 13% for comfortable days
- top 16% for sales tax
- bottom 5% for annual snowfall
Berrien County is a county in Michigan with about 154,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include comfortable days, sales tax, and commute time. It rates lower on violent crime and annual snowfall.
Official websiteberriencounty.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
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v.cold
74%31%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.9 in2.4 in
humid 97%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$60k50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 63% of US counties
Home Value$194k65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$885better than 37% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 42% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.15%better than 29% of US counties
Income Tax4.50%better than 59% of US counties
State 4.30% + Local 0.20%
Sales Tax6.00%better than 84% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden10.18%better than 36% of US counties
Unemployment6.6%better than 20% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)26°F26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation39.6 in42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall76.5 inbetter than 5% of US counties
Sunny Days208 daysbetter than 21% of US counties
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 66% of US counties
Comfortable Days96 daysbetter than 87% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk81.7better than 18% of US counties
Air Quality42 AQIbetter than 56% of US counties
School Quality63.0better than 65% of US counties
Violent Crime2194/100kbetter than 5% of US counties
Property Crime1761/100kbetter than 19% of US counties
Community
Population153,93886th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age42.560th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3965th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9728th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)73.7%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)13.9%81st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.9%57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.6%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.9%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time22 minbetter than 71% of US counties
Walkability6.5/20better than 62% of US counties
Airport Distance65 mibetter than 71% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.6%better than 45% of US counties
Amenities Nearby1.95better than 47% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 62% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Berrien County an affordable place to live?
- Berrien County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 63% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Berrien County?
- The median home value in Berrien County is $194k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Berrien County?
- Median household income in Berrien County is $60k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Berrien County?
- Median gross rent in Berrien County is $885 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Berrien County safe?
- Berrien County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2194/100k (better than 5%). Property crime is 1761/100k.
- What is the weather like in Berrien County?
- Berrien County averages 72°F in July and 26°F in January, with 39.6 in of annual precipitation and about 208 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Berrien County?
- Public-school quality in Berrien County is above average, scoring better than 65% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Berrien County?
- The average one-way commute in Berrien County is 22 min.
Other counties in Michigan
Explore Michigan
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)