Antwerp
RANK #101 / 996 NAT · #12 / 36 MI · POP 75,636
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
South Haven, a notable town in Van Buren County, Michigan, offers Lake Michigan shoreline access, a walkable downtown, and various festivals. Located in southwest Michigan, Van Buren County is about an hour from Grand Rapids and South Bend, and just over two hours from Chicago. The county features 14 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 300 inland lakes, and two rivers, providing opportunities for water sports, fishing, and scenic views. The Kal-Haven Trail, a 33-mile path from South Haven to Kalamazoo, offers options for biking, walking, and snowmobiling.
Van Buren County offers a quality of life that blends small-town living with access to outdoor activities. Many families reside in the county, and residents tend to own their homes. Commute options include county-wide public transit, with dial-a-ride services in towns like Paw Paw and South Haven. Local schools include districts like Mattawan Consolidated School and South Haven Public Schools. The economy is supported by sectors such as agriculture, with the county ranking second in Michigan for grape acreage, and manufacturing. Recent economic developments include investments in manufacturing.
Above national median (4.7x)
Contracting economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.1x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Our Next Energy (ONE) Battery Manufacturing Campus
Our Next Energy (ONE)
|
$1,600M | Planned |
|
Project Cannoli Data Center
Google
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Gypsum Peak Energy Storage
Vesper Energy
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Southwest Michigan Energy Center (Solar)
Shell
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Murch Solar Project
Heelstone Renewable Energy (associated with Amazon)
|
$85M | Under Construction |
|
Decatur Battery Storage
Unknown
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Van Buren County ranks #101 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 90/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.7% year-over-year). Median household income here is $65,531.
By national standards, Van Buren County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $172,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $843/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Van Buren County are both close to flat — population +0.1% YoY and jobs -0.7%. Home values shifted +1.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.87% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Van Buren County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.