ZIP 48049 vs ZIP 48074
Source:
North Street, MI — Smiths Creek, MI
This side-by-side compares ZIP 48049 (North Street, MI) and ZIP 48074 (Smiths Creek, MI) using the same Census ACS 5-Year table fields for both — no averages swapped in, no national proxies. ZIP 48049 has a population of 5,582 at 60 people per square mile, while ZIP 48074 has 9,356 at 97 per square mile. That difference in population size and density alone reshapes how every other metric should be interpreted — a higher-income ZIP with 1,200 residents behaves very differently from one with 45,000.
On income and education, ZIP 48049 reports a median household income of $84,028 against $71,047 in ZIP 48074, with per-capita income of $42,947 vs $35,741. The share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher is 21.5% in 48049 and 14.4% in 48074. Poverty rate reads 6.5% vs 9.2%, and unemployment 5.0% vs 3.4% — these four fields alone drive most of the difference in the scorecard grades you will see for each ZIP.
Housing separates these two ZIPs further: median home value sits at $235,700 in 48049 versus $197,500 in 48074, with median rent of $1,072 and $1,150 per month respectively. Homeownership rate is 89.8% vs 89.0%. When reading the comparison table below, focus on paired metrics rather than single winners — a ZIP with lower home values and lower income is not strictly "worse" if rent-to-income ratios and commute times land in the same zone. Every value is pulled from the exact same ACS table so the two columns are genuinely comparable.
Compare different ZIP codes:
| Metric | 48049 North Street, MI | 48074 Smiths Creek, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,582 | 9,356 |
| Median Household Income | $84,028 | $71,047 |
| Per Capita Income | $42,947 | $35,741 |
| Median Age | 49.1 | 40.6 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.5% | 14.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.5% | 9.2% |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| Median Home Value | $235,700 | $197,500 |
| Median Rent (monthly) | $1,072 | $1,150 |
| Homeownership Rate | 89.8% | 89.0% |
| Population Density (per sq mi) | 60 | 97 |
Values highlighted in green indicate the better metric where applicable. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023.
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All data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2023).
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.