The Township Factsheet is collection of local data, presented in an easy to understand format by the HTPL. The data can be handy for business leaders, students, writers of grants or business plans, and anyone interested in local community development. The factsheet is updated periodically as new data becomes available.
Last Updated 7/5/22 ~ RN
Population
Population Projections
Harrison Township Population numbers are projected to stay the same or grow in the in the next 5 to 10 years according to SEMCOG and ACS survey projections, with potentially 28,554 by 2045. A large portion of this growth is expected to be from new residents between the ages of 24-54.
An Aging Community
Harrison Township has a large senior population, outpacing the state and national numbers for those over the age of 60.
Other Quick Data profiles
SEMCOG Community Explorer
SEMCOG Custom Profile
US Census Quick Facts
Make Macomb Your Home
Please also see our tips to access local statistics in our citations below.
US Census Counts
| US Census 2010 | 24587 |
| US Census 2020 | 24314 |
Source: Census Quick Facts
2020 Households
| Total households | 11554 |
| Average household size | 2.1 |
Source: 2020 Census
Township Diversity
| # | % | |
| White | 19,632 | 80.7 |
| African American | 2503 | 10.3 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 742 | 3.1 |
| Asian | 255 | 1 |
Source: 2020 Census.
Over 60 crowd.
| Age | Harrison Twp | MI | US |
| over 60 | 29.59% | 24% | 22.3% |
Source: 2020 ACS.
Income, Wealth
While some measures of wealth can be difficult to track at the Township level, income and home values are meaures we can view. In Harrison Township, the median income in census tract areas along the Clinton river and along the shores of lake st clair are between $87,710 and $96,125. (ACS census data from SEMCOG) These wealthy areas raise the median income for the entire township to a level higher than the state and national average. The same can be said for home values, which range between $197,900 and $270,000 in the wealthiest census tracts, but average $190,200 for the whole Township.
| By Household | Township | Michigan | United States |
| Median income (dollars) | 67225 | 59234 | 64994 |
Source: 2020 ACS.
Home Value
| Township | Michigan | United States | |
| Median Home Value | 190200 | 162600 | 229800 |
Source: 2020 ACS.
One simple method that is based on income defines the middle class as earning between 2/3 to 2 times the median US income. According to the 2020 ACS numbers below, that defines middle class household incomes between $42,896 and $129,988. Just over fifteen percent of Americans make more than $150,000 a year in income, and just over fourty percent fall below $50,000.
| Income | 0-25k | 25-49k | 50-149k | 150 + | 200 + |
| Harrison Twp. | 16.7% | 15.9% | 48.5% | 12.7% | 6.5% |
| Macomb | 16.4 | 17.8 | 49.4 | 11.9 | 5.1 |
| MI | 19.7 | 22.9 | 46.1 | 11.6 | 5.1 |
| US | 18.4 | 22.5 | 45.6 | 15.4 | 8.3 |
Source: 2020 ACS.
Community Development
A Waterfront Development Plan was established by the Township in 2015, to create a walkable district with physical and visual access to and along the waterfront for public use. A new Downtown Development Authority was also established to implement the plan. See the DDA website for more details and supporting documents, and the 2010 Development Plan on the Planning Commision's website.
Local Roots
| Ancestry | # | % |
| Total Population | 24995 | 100.0% |
| German | 5491 | 21.9% |
| Polish | 3693 | 14.7% |
| Irish | 2843 | 11.4% |
| Italian | 2460 | 9.8% |
| English | 1853 | 7.4% |
| French | 1546 | 6.2% |
Housing Costs
| Township | Michigan | United States | |
| Median monthly housing costs | 943 | 915 | 1120 |
| Median Rent | 884 | 892 | 1096 |
Source: 2020 ACS.
Poverty
The 2021 poverty measure for an individual is a $12,800 per year income or less. This number is adjusted for households with additional family members.
Some social services may include individuals with up to 200% of this income. In 2021 the 200% figure is $25,760 for an individual. Over 20% of Harrison Township residents, according to the Census ACS 2019 estimates, are at or below this 200% threshold.
Looking at income by census tract, suggests that many of these lower income households are in the areas along the expressway, and in the southernmost tracts of the Township. (ACS SEMCOG Community Explorer)
| All Individuals with income below the following povery ratios | |
| 50 percent of poverty level | 1117 |
| 125 percent of poverty level | 2987 |
| 150 percent of poverty level | 3656 |
| 185 percent of poverty level | 4803 |
| 200 percent of poverty level | 5186 |
Source: ACS 2019. See also How Poverty is measured.
and the Living Wage Calculator.
Other Poverty Measures for Harrison Township
| Total | Percent | |
| No health Insurance | 1219 | 4.8% |
| On Medicaid | 3611 | 14.0% |
| WIC * | 270 | 2.3% |
| Households Receiving SNAP |
1116 | 9.59% |
ACS 2019. *locals number gathered from MCHD & CFHC (1/27/2022)
Households with Limited Internet Access
| Households | Percentage | |
| No computer | 1249 | 10.7% |
| Only cellphone | 1162 | 10.0% |
| Combined | 2411 | 20.7% |
| Households | Percentage | |
| Without an Internet subscription | 1529 | 13.1% |
| Cellular data plan with no other type of Internet subscription | 1608 | 13.8% |
| Combined | 3137 | 26.9% |
ACS 2019.
Business & Industry
Selfridge Air National Guard Base is the largest local employer and holds 3600 acres of land. Near the guard base is an industrial district made up of manufacturing and service industries. More recently, marijuana grow facilities have been established in the area. Other important industries in the area support the blue economy with marinas, boat sellers, boat supplies, restaurants, and convenience stores. Also related to the blue economy, St. Clair Shores Metropark occupies a large stretch of land in the Township and is a popular regional destination in the tri-county area.
| Major Industries* | % |
| National Security | 17.5 |
| Retail Trade (Eating & Drinking Establishments, Misc Retail, Auto dealers and gas, food stores, Home furnishings.) | 16.6 |
| Other Services (Business, Personal, Engineering, Accounting, Repair) | 15.8 |
| Manufacturing (Industrial Machinery, Metal Products, Electronics, Transportation) | 11.9 |
| Educational Services | 10.2 |
| Health Services | 5.5 |
| Transportation (Water, Motor Frieght, & air) | 5.2 |
| Construction (Special Trade & General Building | 4.5 |
| Amusement & Recreation Services | 3.7 |
| Finance & Insurance | 3.2 |
| Other Public Administration (Local Gov, Human Services) | 2.4 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.5 |
| Forestry & Fishing (Agricultural Services) | 1 |
| Total | 100 |
| All Services including Health, Education, Recreation & Other | 35.2 |
| * D&B Business Summary Report Q3 2021 |
Citations
American Community Survey. (ACS) 2019 & 2020.
https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table
Filter your search by geography (use zip code for all of Harrison Township) to access ACS tables. Statistics taken from the American Community Survey are estimates. Survey data from the 2020 census is preferred as it becomes available. See also SEMCOG Community Explorer.
Census QuickFacts
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/harrisonchartertownshipmacombcountymichigan?
Must search by "Harrison Charter Township"
QuickFacts data are derived from: Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, Current Population Survey, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Permits.
County Business Patterns. (CBP) 2019.
Census Business Builder: https://cbb.census.gov/sbe/
Good for customer demographics, weak on industry specific data for small locations. Can look at personal spending at restaurants, but not at data about local restaurants. Use 48045 as location, then create a report.
D&B Business Summary of Harrison Township (CCD/MDD by County) Q3 2021. Accessed through Demographics Now database. (using American Community Survey (ACS) data from us Census bureau)
Demographics Now Database: http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=dnow Login with your library card.
SEMCOG Community Explorer
This tool from the South Eastern Michigan Council of Governements breaks down ACS data to the census tract level. https://maps.semcog.org/CommunityExplorer