The 10 Michigan Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2023


We used Saturday Night Science to determine the cities in Michigan with the largest African American population.

Most African American cities in Michigan research summary. We analyzed Michigan’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in Michigan based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in Michigan is Benton Harbor based on the most recent Census data.

  • Benton Harbor is 86.5% Black.

  • The least African American city in Michigan is Northville.

  • Northville is 0.0% Black.

  • Michigan is 13.4% Black.

  • Michigan is the 15th blackest state in the United States.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Michigan is 1,351,051 – at 13.4% of the total population of Michigan.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted Michigan? Which cities and towns in Michigan have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Michigan with the largest African American population in 2023:

What’s the blackest city in Michigan? The city with the largest Black population in Michigan for 2023 is Benton Harbor. See if Benton Harbor ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Michigan or the most diverse places in Michigan.

The 10 Blackest Cities In Michigan For 2023

1. Benton Harbor

Benton Harbor, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Humbles Art | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 9,171
% African American: 86.5%
# Of African American Residents: 7,933
Percent Change Since 2010: -12.09%
More on Benton Harbor:  Data | Cost Of Living

2. Highland Park

Highland Park, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Andrew Jameson (talk) at en.wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 9,304
% African American: 85.16%
# Of African American Residents: 7,923
Percent Change Since 2010: -33.11%
More on Highland Park:  Data | Cost Of Living

3. Detroit

Detroit, MI

Source: Wikipedia User User:AE at Quicken Loans | CC BY-SA 1.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 645,658
% African American: 77.53%
# Of African American Residents: 500,609
Percent Change Since 2010: -20.0%
More on Detroit:  Data | Cost Of Living

4. Inkster

Inkster, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Dwight Burdette | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 25,849
% African American: 76.87%
# Of African American Residents: 19,869
Percent Change Since 2010: 4.22%
More on Inkster:  Data | Cost Of Living

5. Muskegon Heights

Muskegon Heights, MI

Source: Flickr User dsrins_syb | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 10,058
% African American: 74.51%
# Of African American Residents: 7,494
Percent Change Since 2010: -13.55%
More on Muskegon Heights:  Data | Cost Of Living

6. Southfield

Southfield, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 76,196
% African American: 66.34%
# Of African American Residents: 50,552
Percent Change Since 2010: 4.53%
More on Southfield:  Data | Cost Of Living

7. Harper Woods

Harper Woods, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Arbitrarily0 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 15,287
% African American: 62.88%
# Of African American Residents: 9,612
Percent Change Since 2010: 77.21%
More on Harper Woods:  Data | Cost Of Living

8. Flint

Flint, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Flintmichigan | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 83,312
% African American: 55.53%
# Of African American Residents: 46,261
Percent Change Since 2010: -21.4%
More on Flint:  Data | Cost Of Living

9. Oak Park

Oak Park, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Johnrozsa | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 29,677
% African American: 55.4%
# Of African American Residents: 16,442
Percent Change Since 2010: 2.4%
More on Oak Park:  Data | Cost Of Living

10. Eastpointe

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 34,148
% African American: 51.05%
# Of African American Residents: 17,432
Percent Change Since 2010: 87.56%
More on Eastpointe:  Data | Cost Of Living

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Michigan With The Largest Black Population For 2023

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Michigan.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2017-2021 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in Michigan. That left us with 148 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 86.5% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Benton Harbor took the distinction of being the most Black, while Northville was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in Michigan with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Michigan ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across Michigan

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Michigan according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Michigan:

  1. Northville
  2. Davison
  3. Hastings

For more Michigan reading, check out:

African American Population By City In Michigan

Rank City % African American Population
1 Benton Harbor 86.5% 9,171
2 Highland Park 85.16% 9,304
3 Detroit 77.53% 645,658
4 Inkster 76.87% 25,849
5 Muskegon Heights 74.51% 10,058
6 Southfield 66.34% 76,196
7 Harper Woods 62.88% 15,287
8 Flint 55.53% 83,312
9 Oak Park 55.4% 29,677
10 Eastpointe 51.05% 34,148
11 River Rouge 49.43% 7,257
12 Pontiac 46.98% 61,498
13 Saginaw 44.17% 44,796
14 Ecorse 42.84% 9,328
15 Romulus 41.96% 24,977
16 Muskegon 31.57% 37,632
17 Albion 28.47% 8,061
18 Center Line 27.82% 8,515
19 Mount Clemens 26.18% 15,735
20 St. Louis 26.05% 7,435
21 Ypsilanti 24.96% 20,448
22 Lansing 23.19% 113,592
23 Westland 22.07% 84,961
24 Kalamazoo 21.29% 74,020
25 Roseville 21.28% 47,692
26 Wayne 20.95% 17,624
27 Warren 20.75% 138,996
28 Taylor 19.67% 63,071
29 Ionia 19.51% 11,655
30 Jackson 18.74% 31,810
31 Kentwood 18.06% 53,884
32 Farmington Hills 17.9% 83,749
33 Grand Rapids 17.77% 197,858
34 Battle Creek 15.76% 52,434
35 Auburn Hills 14.49% 24,202
36 Melvindale 13.95% 12,534
37 Dowagiac 13.21% 5,731
38 Grand Blanc 13.13% 8,055
39 Niles 12.93% 11,929
40 Springfield 11.98% 5,268
41 Wixom 11.72% 16,853
42 Three Rivers 10.71% 7,946
43 Lapeer 10.38% 8,911
44 Flat Rock 10.08% 10,439
45 Hazel Park 9.97% 15,213
46 Hamtramck 9.92% 27,548
47 Lincoln Park 9.55% 39,741
48 Farmington 9.24% 11,481
49 Dearborn Heights 8.77% 62,334
50 Burton 8.76% 29,532
51 Big Rapids 8.35% 9,105
52 Novi 8.31% 65,369
53 Madison Heights 7.73% 28,719
54 Wyoming 7.71% 76,625
55 Riverview 7.66% 12,465
56 Beverly Hills 7.61% 10,593
57 Port Huron 7.48% 29,009
58 Grosse Pointe Park 6.92% 11,529
59 East Lansing 6.8% 47,427
60 Walled Lake 6.71% 7,263
61 Woodhaven 6.63% 12,889
62 Ann Arbor 6.53% 122,731
63 Southgate 6.18% 29,990
64 Holland 6.04% 34,067
65 Monroe 5.93% 20,344
66 Sterling Heights 5.83% 134,062
67 Coldwater 5.5% 13,764
68 Royal Oak 5.48% 58,368
69 St. Clair Shores 5.39% 59,046
70 Portage 5.34% 48,767
71 Ferndale 5.31% 19,414
72 Fraser 5.27% 14,703
73 Grosse Pointe Woods 5.11% 16,353
74 Garden City 4.99% 27,268
75 St. Joseph 4.58% 7,868
76 Allen Park 4.37% 28,431
77 Livonia 4.35% 95,294
78 Mount Pleasant 4.28% 21,880
79 Mason 4.09% 8,307
80 Milan 3.78% 6,156
81 Troy 3.62% 86,912
82 Marquette 3.49% 20,561
83 Adrian 3.27% 20,674
84 Richmond 3.25% 5,871
85 Rochester Hills 3.22% 75,990
86 Dearborn 3.2% 107,985
87 Berkley 3.07% 15,234
88 Grosse Pointe 3.04% 5,597
89 Walker 3.01% 25,149
90 Houghton 2.84% 7,675
91 Norton Shores 2.74% 25,040
92 Alma 2.67% 9,426
93 Ironwood 2.53% 5,147
94 Grandville 2.5% 16,043
95 Midland 2.38% 42,425
96 Trenton 2.37% 18,489
97 Rockford 2.37% 6,131
98 Plymouth 2.35% 9,308
99 Bay City 2.35% 32,824
100 Ludington 2.34% 7,728
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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