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Living in
Niles.
About
Life in Niles
Niles is a community of 11,838 people in Michigan. The median household income is $51,376, median rent runs about $855 per month, and median home values are around $135,100. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Niles at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.8%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Niles: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Niles, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (41.2%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.3%
of households
Married Couples
29.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.31
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Niles
In Niles, rent runs 24% below the MI average, and home values are 42% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,517
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $213,384 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MI
Unemployment in Niles
Unemployment in Berrien County, which includes Niles, is close to the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Niles: Berrien County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Berrien County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Niles Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.8 min avg
How Niles residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Niles, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
South Bend International Airport (SBN)
Small hub552k passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 85 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 7% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Niles runs 7% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
351
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,369.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Niles Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Berrien County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Berrien County, which includes Niles, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $87,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $120,500 |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $77,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.4M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Berrien County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Berrien County, which includes Niles, is typically good.
Median AQI
41
Berrien County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Niles has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
62.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
147
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 19°F | 3.03" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.34" |
| Mar | 47°F | 29°F | 2.54" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.69" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 4.24" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.05" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.69" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.42" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 3.52" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 4.39" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 3.03" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 2.74" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Niles
Uninsured
8.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Niles's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Mishawaka
Unity Physicians Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 9.9 mi away · Mishawaka
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · South Bend
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Niles
Niles's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Niles (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 3,933 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $50,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,008 students · in-state tuition $35,380 · 59% graduate · median earnings $54,006 (10 yrs after entry)
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
11.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 480 students · in-state tuition $24,500 · 92% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Niles
Niles has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
46 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Niles
Niles District Library
620 East Main Street, Niles
Cities Near Niles
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Niles?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Niles FAQ
Is Niles, Michigan affordable?⌄
Niles's median rent is $855/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,376/year. Median home value is $135,100.
Is Niles, Michigan safe?⌄
Niles's violent crime rate was 351 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1370 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Niles, Michigan?⌄
Berrien County, which includes Niles, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Niles, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Niles is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $855/month and median household income is $51,376/year. The median home value is $135,100. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Niles, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Niles is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from