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Is South Haven, MI a Good Place to Live?
South Haven is a small town of 3,999 in Michigan, with a median household income of $63,202 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.
Strengths: South Haven stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether South Haven is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Haven city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 96.0South Haven's overall cost of living index is 96.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Haven costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | South Haven, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $343,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $689 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $63,202 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
High CrimeSouth Haven's violent crime rate is 672.8 per 100,000 residents — 77% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
South Haven is served primarily by South Haven Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | South Haven, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | South Haven Public Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 14.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Haven sees average highs of 33.5°F in January and 80.0°F in July, with 37.2 inches of annual precipitation and 109.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | South Haven, MI |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 33.5°F |
| Average High — July | 80.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 109.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | South Haven, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,999 | — |
| Median Age | 61.0 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 19.8 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 79.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 10.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 40.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in South Haven
South Haven, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: