Berrien County, Michigan Income Statistics
Berrien County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Berrien County Below averageWealthier than 73% of counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Berrien County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,853 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,101 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.2% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Berrien County is about 10% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Berrien County (4.6%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Berrien County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Berrien County, Michigan grew by 55.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,853 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Berrien County
| Metric | Berrien County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.542 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,169 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,570 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.1% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Berrien County, it is 0.542, about the same as Michigan's 0.539, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Berrien County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $510,965 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berrien County, Michigan has narrowed from about 32% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $268 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Berrien County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 4,613 people are unemployed in Berrien County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Berrien County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Berrien County, Michigan has fallen from 11.0% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.9% in 2019.
Berrien County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Berrien County, MI is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 153,288 residents against a local median of 111,917. Where Berrien County, MI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 29% above the local median of 4.8% at 6.2%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.0% on unemployment, so Berrien County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Berrien County, MI has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berrien County, MI | 153,288 | $65,853 #6/6 | 4.6%/yr #5/6 | 6.2% #6/6 | 0.542 #4/6 |
| LaPorte County, IN | 111,917 | $70,422 | 4.8%/yr | 4.8% | 0.558 |
| Van Buren County, MI | 75,795 | $68,304 | 4.8%/yr | 4.2% | 0.531 |
| St. Joseph County, IN | 273,015 | $66,946 | 4.8%/yr | 5.2% | 0.541 |
| Porter County, IN | 174,798 | $86,949 | 3.7%/yr | 4.7% | 0.543 |
| Cass County, MI | 51,520 | $70,806 | 5.0%/yr | 5.0% | 0.526 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Berrien County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Berrien County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Berrien County, Michigan?
Berrien County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,853, about 10% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Berrien County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Berrien County, Michigan rose 56%, from $42,254 to $65,853. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +56% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Berrien County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Berrien County, Michigan was $64,094, up 6% from $60,425 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Berrien County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Berrien County, Michigan was $52,560. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $65,853.
What is the Gini coefficient in Berrien County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Berrien County is 0.542. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Berrien County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berrien County, Michigan has narrowed from about 32% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $268 since 2009.
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