Population 2,769 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in New Buffalo
Household size in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.14 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.97 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.38 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in New Buffalo are small: just 1.97 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.35 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.5 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 55.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.0 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 55.8, New Buffalo is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.1% of households in New Buffalo, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in New Buffalo
Renters in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.5% of households in New Buffalo rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 44.8% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in New Buffalo: 48.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in New Buffalo run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. Michigan as a whole looks much the same.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $723 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $905 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $828 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $989 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$266 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in New Buffalo costs $989 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 40.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in New Buffalo
Bachelor's degrees in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.0% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +20.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in New Buffalo than nationally: 43.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.0% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in New Buffalo is a bit above the national rate: 92.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Michigan.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in New Buffalo
| Period | New Buffalo | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in New Buffalo: 7.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
New Buffalo compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Buffalo | 1.97 | 55.8 | 3.1% | 23.5% | 48.9% | 1974 | $989 | 43.0% | 92.0% | 7.1% |
| Grand Beach | 1.84 | 64.3 | 5.3% | 7.5% | 64.2% | 1983 | $1,056 | 72.8% | 99.4% | 3.4% |
| Michiana | 1.84 | 64.3 | 5.3% | 7.5% | 64.2% | 1983 | $1,056 | 72.8% | 99.4% | 3.4% |
| Union Pier | 2.02 | 56.7 | 3.9% | 23.7% | 57.1% | 1974 | $888 | 50.8% | 96.2% | 11.2% |
| Michiana Shores | 2.10 | 57.4 | 2.0% | 3.6% | 26.4% | 1968 | $2,275 | 50.3% | 95.7% | 1.5% |
| Tee Lake | 2.31 | 55.7 | 6.5% | 2.0% | 15.9% | 1984 | $1,209 | 23.2% | 94.2% | 4.6% |
| Lakeside | 1.76 | 63.3 | 3.6% | 5.2% | 59.1% | 1963 | $892 | 67.4% | 98.7% | 0.0% |
| Long Beach | 1.75 | 60.6 | 3.6% | 33.8% | 25.7% | 1961 | $1,314 | 66.5% | 99.0% | 2.7% |
| Three Oaks | 2.40 | 45.9 | 9.6% | 17.6% | 25.6% | 1963 | $1,141 | 26.0% | 93.1% | 3.7% |
| Pottawattamie Park | 1.77 | 63.5 | 0.5% | 44.3% | 33.3% | 1967 | $1,039 | 56.7% | 97.3% | 3.2% |
| Harbert | 1.96 | 60.5 | 3.9% | 5.8% | 59.6% | 1962 | $960 | 47.7% | 98.4% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Alpine, AL · Heiskell, TN · Harwich, MA · Grundy Center, IA · Columbia City, OR · Clayton, NY · Clayton, AL · Chincoteague, VA · Catawissa, MO · Casco, ME
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up New Buffalo. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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