Shiloh House · National Register of Historic Places
Benton Township’s story
Benton Township in pictures
The archive holds 4 maps from 1927 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
Benton TownshipMI
A town of 14,228.
8 bordering townsMap →
Mary's City of David · Photo: FotoGuy 49057 · CC BY 2.0
Population
14,228
2025 Census estimate · −1.1% since 2020
Median home value
$149K
Census ACS
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
35.7
years
Jobs based here
9,473
A job hub
TownGrade
D−
In the bottom 2% of U.S. towns
Is Benton Township a good place to live?
Benton Township earns a D−, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns, mostly because of safety and health. It reports more crime per resident than 100% of U.S. towns, including 241 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. On CDC health estimates it is near the bottom nationally. In its favor, natural-hazard risk is low. 33% of residents live below the poverty line in Benton Township, against 8.9% in Michigan’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. On incomes, just 99 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do worse. Benton Township is home to Lake Michigan College.
What makes Benton Township stand out
Where Benton Township beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here9,473
Residents who work4,949
Work
1.9 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021.
Shiloh HouseHistoryA−
3 historic places
3 places on the National Register
Listed for their history, architecture or both.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Benton Township17.2
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Worth knowing · SafetyD−
4 times the violent crime than MI
More crime per resident than 99% of U.S. towns
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
College town
Lake Michigan College calls Benton Township home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Benton Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Benton Township is from typical.
Its best grade is an A− for history (3 places on the National Register), which describes the town but isn’t part of the overall grade; its D− comes from the livability subjects above.
SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD−Open →HealthNear the bottom of U.S. towns on CDC estimates; Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph 4.6 miles awayD−Open →SchoolsD−Open →Jobs & incomeDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 17.2% of households have no car; 2.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $149K, 2.3 years of the Niles metro’s $65K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5% conserved landBOpen →History3 places on the National RegisterA−Open →Civic life3.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Benton Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Benton Township, and how to reach them.
PowerMidwest Energy Cooperative19.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBenton Harbor water system9 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Benton Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBenton Charter Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4902249022 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Benton Township.
Benton Township draws workers from Lincoln Township and beyond, but it reports violent crime at 4 times the Michigan rate and has poverty well above the Michigan rate.
SafetyD−
Benton Township stands out in Michigan and nationally: violent crime there is higher
Violent crime runs at 17.2 per 1,000 residents, 4 times the Michigan rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Property crime runs at 54.6 per 1,000 residents, 4 times the Michigan rate, most of it theft.
The violent crime rate in Benton Township is 17.2 per 1,000 residents. Among 272 Michigan towns, just 1 have a higher property crime rate than Benton Township. Benton Township reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 100% report less.
1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD−Safety Grade
| Benton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17.2 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 54.6 per 1,000 residents | 7.8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Benton Township17.2
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Benton Township54.6
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
1st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
1st
percentile among MI towns
241
violent crimes reported in 2025
767
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsD−
Benton Township’s schools rank behind 97% of Michigan districts
Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Countryside Academy MiddleHigh School, with 386 students.
3%of MI districts it outscoresD−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countryside Academy ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 384 | D |
| Countryside Academy MiddleHigh SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 2–12 | Grades 2–12 | 386 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
HealthD−
A larger share of adults say their health is fair or poor in Benton Township than in most of Michigan or the rest of the country
32% of Benton Township adults say their health is fair or poor. Benton Township beats the Michigan average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 23. 19% of Benton Township adults report frequent physical distress.
1%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Benton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 19% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
2 better7 too close to call23 worse
| What stands out | Benton Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.2% | 15.9% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.6% | 8.9% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 22% | 8.7% |
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph
4.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
1st
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
About one in five working residents works right in Benton Township
9,473 jobs are based in Benton Township, 1.9 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here grew from 6,720 in 2011 to 9,473.
About one in 5 of Benton Township’s working residents works in town. Benton Township’s median household income is $39,000. Jobs based in Benton Township grew to 9,473 in 2021, 2,753 more than in 2011.
22%work in town
| Benton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 22% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 10% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Benton Township22%
St. Joseph8%
Lincoln Township6%
Grand Rapids5%
St. Joseph Township3%
10 mi
median commute distance
9,473
jobs based in Benton Township
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 52% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
OutdoorsB
Benton Township has set aside 4.8% of its land for conservation
13 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Sarett Nature Center, 371 acres with 7 miles of trail.
#308for trails in MI
| Benton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
4.8%
conserved · 1,000 of 20,915 acres
13 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sarett Nature Center | 7 mi | 371 |
| 2. Brown Sanctuary | 1 mi | 369 |
| 3. Benton Park | 0.1 mi | 62 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Low risk in Benton Township, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 79% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Benton Township since 1991.
21risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 1991
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Benton Township
Benton Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 19° and about 78 inches of snow falls in a winter.
78″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–35°
Spring38–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall43–62°
Oct 17
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Benton Township
19pages on Benton Township
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 97% of MI districts · 5 schoolsSafetyD−17.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD−Better than MI on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−Work & commuteD$39K median household income · 9,473 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 21% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Benton Township
Lake Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Benton TownshipIn town$5,445 in-state tuitionAndrews UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Berrien Springs10.6 mi$35,056 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Benton Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
A job hub
Every workday, about 8,397 people come to Benton Township for work
Where Benton Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
9,473jobs based in Benton Township
22%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
Landmarks
3 places in Benton Township on the National Register of Historic Places.
Benton Township’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Benton Township.
All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D−; Benton Harbor (D−) is closest. Royalton Township next door grades higher for schools (A− to Benton Township’s D−) and lower for cost of living (C− to B−).
Benton HarborBenton HeightsFair PlainBainbridge TownshipRoyalton TownshipHagar TownshipSodus TownshipMillburgBenton Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Township | #697 | D− | B− | D− | D− | D− |
| Benton Harbor | #693 | D− | B+ | D− | D− | D− |
| Benton Heights | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fair Plain | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bainbridge Township | #631 | D | B+ | — | C− | D− |
| Royalton Township | #267 | B+ | C− | — | A− | A− |
| Hagar Township | #598 | C− | B | — | C | D |
| Sodus Township | — | — | B | — | D | C− |
Sodus Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Bainbridge Township, Royalton Township, Hagar Township and Sodus Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Benton Heights and Fair Plain aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Benton Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Benton Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Benton Township, MI a good place to live?
Benton Township grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns. It grades D− for health, D− for safety and D− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Benton Township, MI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.