While every state in the United States has certain crime rate, but Benton Harbor is a bit more dangerous than others. As time went by, years after years several cases has been found that has made Benton Harbor a most dangerous place in United States.
But, why is Benton Harbor so dangerous?
This has become a concerning question for many people and real estate agents, and even for governments. It’s now very important to understand the crucial factors and reasons behind such crime rates and poor lifestyle of Benton Harbor.
If you’re planning to move into Benton Harbor, or want to invest in the real estate, or just going for a family trip, make sure you read this article. This post discusses some of the most updated data points that specifies why Benton Harbor has become so dangerous place in the US, are all places equally dangerous, and various government initiatives to reduce hazardous problems.
Key Points
- Benton Harbor has a population of approximately 9,988 residents.
- More than 44% of Benton Harbor’s population lives below the poverty line, which is nearly four times the national average of 11.5%
- Benton Harbor has a total crime rate of 4,720 per 100,000 people, which is 173.26% higher than the national average
- The city has received a D-grade for overall crime.
Historical Overview of Benton Harbor
Before we delve deeper into why Benton Harbor is so dangerous, let’s get some historical context of the city.
Benton Harbor, a famous city in Michigan, has been founded in 1831 and incorporated as city in 1891. Initially, Benton Harbor has become famous for it’s pottery and manufacturing capabilities. Moreover, Benton Harbor is located near the Lake Michigan, that made trading and transportation quite easier and affordable for many manufacturers.
The Benton Harbor saw a massive rapid growth and development due many industrialist and manufacturers.
However, after World War 2, many manufacturing process started declining and unemployment rate started rising, due to which many homeowners relocated to some other cities for more better opportunities and good lifestyle.
Due to this, Benton Harbor has seen a rapid growth in unemployment, higher crime rates, increasing poverty rates, making it a dangerous place to live.
How Dangerous Is Benton Harbor?
Benton Harbor is a city with a population of 8,943, and a crime rate that is 472% higher than the Michigan average. In 2021, it was noted that the crime rate in Benton Harbor’s property was 202% higher than the Michigan’s average crime rate, which is a real problem.
In the property crime category, there were a total of 69 burglaries recorded in the year 2021, along with this, there were also two murders and eleven robberies in the same year.
There was another research done in 2022, and a rise in crime rates were recorded. The crime rate rose from 472% to 986%, which is double the previous year.
Why Is Benton Harbor So Dangerous?
Benton Harbor, Michigan is listed as one of the most dangerous places in the United States. There are some major factors like high unemployment, inadequate medical care, limited education, etc. responsible for the city’s dangerous nature.
To help you understand better why Benton Harbor is dangerous and unsafe for living, here are the crucial factors based on various data points:
1. High Crime Rates
Benton Harbor has had consistently high crime rates compared to other Michigan cities. Various crimes has been seen for over a consistent period of time. Crimes such as, Murder, Violent Crime, Assault, and property crime are the most frequent one.
As per the most latest data of 2022 of Area Vibes, total crime rate was increased by 173%, Violent crime by 614%, and 90% rise in property crime.
To be precise, Benton Harbor has a total crime rate of 4,720 per 100,000 people living in the city. This crime rate is 173.26% higher than the average crime rate in the whole nation.
Regarding Assault cases, as per the 2018 data, there has been 155 records of aggravated assault.
2. Poverty
Benton Harbor has a population of 9.17k, out of which 99.2% are US citizens. Compared to other cities in Michigan, the poverty rate in Benton Harbor is very high.
Due to the lack of proper educational facilities in Benton Harbor, which led to lots of people being unemployed, resulted in high rates of poverty. The poverty rates is one of major reason why Benton Harbor has high crime rates.
If we talk about the average household income, it’s around $26,132 with a poverty rate of 44.2%. And because of having high poverty rates, the crime rates also increased, the reason being people are unemployed and have no proper education.
As per the data carried by Census Report, City Data, and United States Census Bureau, they all has highlighted the poverty rate to be close to 44.2%, 30.8% higher than the entire Michigan.
3. Living & Lifestyle
Benton Harbor has a low cost of living compared to other cities in the US. While amenities such as, housing, and healthcare services are quite affordable, however, they are not within a reasonable distance.
There are no proper educational centers, and elementary and high schools are inaccessible within local areas, which creates limited access to educational opportunities.
As we have mentioned before, Benton Harbor has a high unemployment rate, which leads to widespread poverty and contributes to its high crime rates.
4. Lead Contamination
Benton Harbor has been suffering from lead contamination and other toxins for decades. We all know that lead is dangerous for humans, it can cause developmental delays in children, cancer, mental disorders, premature death, and some other serious health-related issues.
However, there were some changes made in 2018, An act was started called the “Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act”, and Michigan brought the changes to lead and copper rule.
The government said that these changes would give the city the most stringent standard for drinking water.
Unfortunately, Benton Harbor’s sampled water failed six times consecutively to meet the standards over the last three years. People demanded action to correct the lead level in the drinking water.
5. Education
It is obvious that education has played a significant role in city’s high poverty and crime rates over a successive period of time. As per the data 2022 published by Michigan Govt., the graduation rate of Benton Harbor is only 54.2%, which way too lower than the entire state which is 80.5%.
The gap between the average graduation rate of State and the city clear shows how important it has become to improve the overall education system in Benton Harbor.
One of the major cause of such a low graduation level is due to lack of funding and proper resources to Benton Harbor Area School.
6. Community Factors
Many of the Benton Harbor residents live under the poverty line. The reason is limited educational opportunities, which led to a rise in unemployment and this together resulted in high crime rates.
Based on recently done research, the cost of living at Benton Harbor is 22% less expensive than the average but the livability of this area is below the average.
There are limited job opportunities as the market is small, and people have to move out of the city to look for job opportunities.
The employment rate in Benton Harbor declined rapidly, from 3.71k to 3.55k employees, it declined at the rate of -4.39%.
The crime rate is 6,351 per 100k people, which is higher than the national average, which means the chances of you becoming a victim of violent crime are 1 out of 29.
7. Unemployment
Unemployment is a major problem in Benton Harbor, Michigan. High unemployment is the major factor that is responsible for the city’s overall poverty and crime rates.
It’s also responsible for other issues like reduced economic activities, a decrease in public revenue, and other society-related problems.
According to the United States Federal Reserve, in January 2022 it was recorded that the unemployment rate in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was 5.30%.
According to the most recent data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate of Benton Harbor reached 4.50% in Fed 2024, in comparison to 4.30% last month.
Are All Places Equally Dangerous In Benton Harbor?
No, not all places are equally dangerous in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
It is true that the living conditions in Benton Harbor are unsafe and not for all but this can’t be said for every place in Benton Harbor. The danger levels can vary from place to place, depending on factors like crime rates, poverty levels, access to educational, industrial, and medical facilities, the socio-economic status of that area, etc.
It is also important to note that various environmental issues are going on in Benton Harbor that affect the livability of that area, such as toxic fumes, lead contamination, and other possible hazards, making those areas more dangerous than the other parts of the city.
People are struggling but still thriving within this environment, making their living.
Some of the best places to live in Benton Harbor are District 3, District 1B, and Harbor Shores, these neighborhoods are best in comparison to other areas.
The problem with lead contamination is still going on to this date, and actions are being taken to solve this problem but it’s going to take more time for the lead problem to get solved completely.
We can say that the areas with high crime rates, or higher levels of economic deprivation may be considered more dangerous compared to other areas with lower crime rates and that have easy access to resources.
Recommendations For Visitors & Residents
While Benton Harbor is dangerous, it is still good for travel experience. If you’re planning to visit Benton Harbor or you’re visiting for official purpose, make sure you read the basic recommendations to safeguard yourself.
Here are some key recommendations:
Avoid high crime rate areas:
No doubt, Benton Harbors is dangerous to live, but there are still certain places which are much safer and better for living. To do not fall in any trap or problem, make sure you avoid living to areas with high crime rates.
Areas such as downtown and east side are considered no too safe to be there. Moreover, you must consult with the communities to find safer places.
Avoid late night travels:
Most of the crimes that happens in Benton Harbor is at the night. Hence, make sure you avoid exploring the city at night. Further, make sure you travel in group and always keep personal belongings safe and secured.
Use public transport:
While you explore this beautiful city, make sure to do not use private cab services. Always better to share the ride app, such as Uber or Lyft.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States, is a dangerous place because of the environmental conditions there. There are many factors that contributes to why Benton Harbor is so dangerous.
The residents are struggling with lead contamination in their water, toxic fumes, limited access to educational and medical facilities, high crime rates, and poverty levels. These factors all together contribute to the answer “why Benton Harbor is dangerous?”.
However, we should remember that not all places in Benton Harbor are dangerous, the danger level can vary from place to place, and some places have high crime rates, high poverty levels, limited access to industrial and medical facilities, the socio-economic status of that area.
These factors are responsible for affecting the livability of those areas. But there are some places which are safe and have easy access to facilities, making those areas a better option for living.
