Saint Clair Shores, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48081
Macomb County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,635
- 2,026/sq mi High-density area
- $82,009
- Median income Near-median income area
- $217,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 28.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Saint Clair Shores pairs an above-median household income with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 36%
- household income, US ZIPs
- 49th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,026
- people per sq mi
- 85%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48081 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 48081 (Saint Clair Shores, MI) rose +8.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 158.4 in 2023 to 171.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 48081 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Saint Clair Shores, Macomb County, Michigan, with 20,635 residents across 10.2 square miles, a density of 2,026 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48081 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $82,009 (12% above the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $43,370. The poverty rate is 5.8%, with unemployment at 4.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $217,900 (1% below the average Michigan ZIP) and median rent is $1,334; 85.3% of occupied homes 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 44.8, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Macomb County, so 48081 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 48081
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saint Clair Shores, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48081.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
99 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
59 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
44 establishments
- Construction 36
Construction
36 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 35
Other services (except public administration)
35 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48081, Saint Clair Shores, 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
20,635
Population
10.2
Area (sq mi)
2,026
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48081?
44.8
Median Age
50.4%
Male
49.6%
Female
3.4%
Foreign-Born
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?
$82,009
Median Household Income
+12% vs state ZIP avg
$43,370
Per Capita Income
5.8%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
27.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48081 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Saint Clair Shores, MI household income vs. every Michigan ZIP code
Median household income among 962 reporting Michigan ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$82,009 Top 27% higher than 73% of 962 Michigan ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Michigan 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,573housing units
9,573
Total Housing Units
9,139
Occupied Units
434
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$217,900
Median Home Value
-1% vs state ZIP avg
$1,334
Median Rent
1957
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
+8.0%
YoY Change (2024)
171
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+71%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48081 have increased 8.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +71% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.6% | 122 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 135 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 150 |
| 2023 | +5.6% | 158 |
| 2024 | +8.0% | 171 |
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 400 business establishments in ZIP 48081, employing approximately 3,560 people with a combined annual payroll of $215,947,000.
400
Businesses
3,560
Employees
$215.9M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 99 | 24.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 59 | 14.8% |
| Retail trade | 44 | 11.0% |
| Construction | 36 | 9.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 35 | 8.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 27 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 4.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 2.3% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.8% |
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 48081 vs 48080 →
ZIP 48081 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48066
Roseville (48066)
47,388 residents
- 48035
Clinton Township (48035)
34,788 residents
- 48021
Eastpointe (48021)
32,353 residents
- 48236
Grosse Pointe (48236)
30,607 residents
- 48080
Saint Clair Shores (48080)
22,494 residents
- 48088
Warren (48088)
22,255 residents
- 48036
Clinton Township (48036)
20,980 residents
- 48081
Saint Clair Shores (48081)
20,635 residents
- 48082 16,549
Saint Clair Shores (48082)
16,549 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48081 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48236
Grosse Pointe (48236)
$128,242 median income
- 48081
Saint Clair Shores (48081)
$82,009 median income
- 48088
Warren (48088)
$81,601 median income
- 48082
Saint Clair Shores (48082)
$74,806 median income
- 48035
Clinton Township (48035)
$73,015 median income
- 48036
Clinton Township (48036)
$70,071 median income
- 48080
Saint Clair Shores (48080)
$66,986 median income
- 48026
Fraser (48026)
$64,354 median income
- 48021
Eastpointe (48021)
$62,325 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48081 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48080 | Saint Clair Shores, MI | 22,494 | 2.1 mi |
| 48082 | Saint Clair Shores, MI | 16,549 | 2.3 mi |
| 48066 | Roseville, MI | 47,388 | 2.1 mi |
| 48035 | Clinton Township, MI | 34,788 | 4.3 mi |
| 48236 | Grosse Pointe, MI | 30,607 | 4.8 mi |
| 48021 | Eastpointe, MI | 32,353 | 3.2 mi |
| 48225 | Harper Woods, MI | 14,554 | 4.2 mi |
| 48026 | Fraser, MI | 14,480 | 4.0 mi |
| 48036 | Clinton Township, MI | 20,980 | 6.7 mi |
| 48088 | Warren, MI | 22,255 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48081, both outside MI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,635 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Macomb County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 48081 in?
ZIP code 48081 (Saint Clair Shores) is located in Macomb County, Michigan. Macomb County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/macomb-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48081?
ZIP code 48081 in Saint Clair Shores, MI has a population of 20,635 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48081?
The median household income in ZIP 48081 is $82,009, which is 7% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48081?
The median home value in ZIP 48081 is $217,900, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48081?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48081 is White at 91.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48081?
ZIP code 48081 has 400 business establishments employing approximately 3,560 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48081?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48081 are: Health care and social assistance (99), Professional, scientific, and technical services (59), Retail trade (44). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48081?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48081 increased by 8.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 71%. 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 48081?
In ZIP code 48081, 56.7% 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 48081?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48081 is 27.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48081?
In ZIP code 48081, approximately 85.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48081?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48081 is 5.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 48081's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48081 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Saint Clair Shores, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.