PlainZIP

Fort Gratiot, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48059

St. Clair County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

15,123
185/sq mi
$80,062
Median income
$221,700
Median home value
28.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Fort Gratiot pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 38%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 50%
home value, US ZIPs
185
people per sq mi
83%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48059 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48059 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fort Gratiot, St. Clair County, Michigan, home to 15,123 residents across 81.8 square miles, a density of 185 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48059 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $80,062 (9% above the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $39,425. The poverty rate stands at 6.7% and the unemployment rate at 4.2%. The typical home here is valued at $221,700 (1% above the state average); renters pay a median of $994 monthly, and 83.1% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.6, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing St. Clair County, so you can benchmark 48059 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 48059

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fort Gratiot, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48059.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48059, Fort Gratiot, MI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

15,123

Population

81.8

Area (sq mi)

185

People / sq mi

Detroit

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 48059?

48.6

Median Age

46.3%

Male

53.7%

Female

2.0%

Foreign-Born

White 93.3%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.0%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$80,062

Median Household Income

+9% vs state

$39,425

Per Capita Income

6.7%

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

24.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48059 ranks nationally

Fort Gratiot, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$80,062 Top 38% higher than 62% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 55.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

7,422

Total Housing Units

6,654

Occupied Units

768

Vacant Units

2.29

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 83.1%
Renter 16.9%

$221,700

Median Home Value

+1% vs state

$994

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+8.5%

YoY Change (2024)

182

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+82%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48059 have increased 8.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +82% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.3% 121
2021 +11.1% 134
2022 +16.1% 156
2023 +8.0% 168
2024 +8.5% 182

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 361 business establishments in ZIP 48059, employing approximately 5,104 people with a combined annual payroll of $191,591,000.

361

Businesses

5,104

Employees

$191.6M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 95 26.3%
Health care and social assistance 57 15.8%
Accommodation and food services 46 12.7%
Construction 28 7.8%
Other services (except public administration) 22 6.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 21 5.8%
Finance and insurance 19 5.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 18 5.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 13 3.6%
Wholesale trade 10 2.8%
Transportation and warehousing 10 2.8%
Information 7 1.9%
Manufacturing 4 1.1%
Educational services 4 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 48059 vs 48049 →

ZIP 48059 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48059 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 48059 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 48059 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
48049 North Street, MI 5,582 5.0 mi
48060 Port Huron, MI 40,831 7.4 mi
48032 Jeddo, MI 2,322 5.9 mi
48074 Smiths Creek, MI 9,356 9.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in St. Clair County

48060 standard
Port Huron, MI
Pop: 40,831
48079 standard
Saint Clair, MI
Pop: 12,304
48001 standard
Algonac, MI
Pop: 11,986
48040 standard
Marysville, MI
Pop: 9,956
48074 standard
Smiths Creek, MI
Pop: 9,356
48039 standard
Marine City, MI
Pop: 7,807

Related Areas

St. Clair County Fort Gratiot, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48059 in? ▼
ZIP code 48059 (Fort Gratiot) is located in St. Clair County, Michigan. St. Clair County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/st-clair-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48059? ▼
ZIP code 48059 in Fort Gratiot, MI has a population of 15,123 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48059? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48059 is $80,062, which is 5% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48059? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48059 is $221,700, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48059? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48059 is White at 93.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48059? ▼
ZIP code 48059 has 361 business establishments employing approximately 5,104 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48059? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48059 are: Retail trade (95), Health care and social assistance (57), Accommodation and food services (46). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48059? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48059 increased by 8.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 82%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 48059? ▼
In ZIP code 48059, 55.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 48059? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48059 is 24.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48059? ▼
In ZIP code 48059, approximately 83.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48059? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48059 is 6.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.