Cost of Living in Berrien County, Michigan
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Berrien County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Berrien County ranks #2,080 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 34%)
Sourced county brief
Berrien County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,002
Median monthly owner costs in Berrien County are $1,002, which is $84 above the Michigan unweighted county mean of $918. The median home value is $224,300, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $197,293. Median gross rent in the county is $942 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $906. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or GRAPI, is 29.9%. This percentage is 1.0 percentage point higher than the Michigan unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Renter-household income in Berrien County is estimated at $35,627. These figures are provided by the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Berrien County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.9% of renter household income in Berrien County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $942 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,002. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $37,680 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. Berrien County's $942 median is 4.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Berrien County
Rent Burden
17.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,527
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.4%
of gross income
The median home in Berrien County may be a stretch
Median home value is $224,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,791 vs. your max of $1,527.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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