The Town FilesSouth Haven, Michigan
City in Van Buren County · population 3,964 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $454,100
- Household income
- $68,239
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 98 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 61.7
South Haven is a city of 3,964 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. The median home is worth $454,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Michigan towns, better transit than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 93% of Michigan towns.
How South Haven ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Haven is worth $454,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 6.7 times the median household income of $68,239, which is more affordable than 0% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $834 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Haven | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $454,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $834 | $955 |
| Median household income | $68,239 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.9% | — |
Who lives in South Haven
| People | South Haven | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Haven
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 97.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Haven since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 30, 1989 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 1980.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 21,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,293 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in South Haven itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in South Haven
5 public schools with 1,489 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Haven High School | 9-12 | 569 | 17.8 |
| Baseline Middle School | 6-8 | 403 | 16.1 |
| North Shore Elementary | 4-5 | 261 | 16.3 |
| Lincoln School | PK-3 | 227 | 13.4 |
| WAY South Haven | 8-12 | 29 | 3.6 |
Towns near South Haven
- South Haven, MI2.7 mi · 4,041 people · home $233,900
- Casco, MI5.4 mi · 2,796 people · home $310,200
- Geneva, MI5.6 mi · 3,416 people · home $183,800
- Covert, MI8.2 mi · 2,510 people · home $157,600
- Lee, MI10.7 mi · 3,805 people · home $80,600
- Ganges, MI10.9 mi · 2,574 people · home $266,200
- Columbia, MI11.1 mi · 2,546 people · home $164,500
- Paw Paw Lake, MI13.1 mi · 3,323 people · home $191,700
South Haven questions
Is South Haven, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Haven scores better for retirees than 62% of Michigan towns and quieter than 19%. 41.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.7).
How much does a house cost in South Haven?
The median owner-occupied home in South Haven is valued at $454,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,239, so homes cost about 6.7 times income. Median rent is $834 a month.
What is the weather like in South Haven?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 97.7 inches of snow.
Does South Haven get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Haven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 30, 1989. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)