PlainZIP

Sandusky, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48471

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

5,745
22/sq mi
$62,844
Median income
$142,700
Median home value
14.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Sandusky pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

34th pct
household income, US ZIPs
23th pct
home value, US ZIPs
22
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48471 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48471 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Sandusky, Sanilac County, Michigan, home to 5,745 residents across 261.1 square miles, a density of 22 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48471 reports a modest median household income of $62,844 (14% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $33,600. Poverty here runs at 13.2%, with unemployment measured at 4.7%. Median home value sits at $142,700 (35% below the state average), median rent at $795 a month, and owner-occupancy at 70.9%.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 24 minutes. Beyond these figures, 3 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Sanilac County, letting you compare 48471 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 48471

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sandusky, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48471.

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 48471, Sandusky, 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

5,745

Population

261.1

Area (sq mi)

22

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 48471?

41.5

Median Age

52.5%

Male

47.5%

Female

0.8%

Foreign-Born

White 91.7%
African American 1.1%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%

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?

$62,844

Median Household Income

-14% vs state

$33,600

Per Capita Income

13.2%

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

24.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48471 ranks nationally

Sandusky, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$62,844 34th percentile higher than 34% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 61.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.8%

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

What does housing look like?

2,489

Total Housing Units

2,327

Occupied Units

162

Vacant Units

2.22

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.9%
Renter 29.1%

$142,700

Median Home Value

-35% vs state

$795

Median Rent

1969

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

+3.3%

YoY Change (2024)

140

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+40%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48471 have increased 3.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +40% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.7% 103
2021 +14.9% 119
2022 +9.9% 131
2023 +4.0% 136
2024 +3.3% 140

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 192 business establishments in ZIP 48471, employing approximately 2,432 people with a combined annual payroll of $113,606,000.

192

Businesses

2,432

Employees

$113.6M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 33 17.2%
Health care and social assistance 33 17.2%
Other services (except public administration) 22 11.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 19 9.9%
Finance and insurance 15 7.8%
Accommodation and food services 15 7.8%
Construction 12 6.3%
Manufacturing 9 4.7%
Wholesale trade 8 4.2%
Information 6 3.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 3.1%
Transportation and warehousing 5 2.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.6%

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 48471 vs 48466 →

ZIP 48471 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 48471 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 48471 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 48471 ranks the highest of 4 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
48466 Peck, MI 1,578 9.9 mi
48472 Snover, MI 1,912 8.4 mi
48427 Deckerville, MI 2,879 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Sanilac County

48422 standard
Croswell, MI
Pop: 6,400
48453 standard
Marlette, MI
Pop: 5,146
48416 standard
Brown City, MI
Pop: 5,002
48450 standard
Lexington, MI
Pop: 4,780
48427 standard
Deckerville, MI
Pop: 2,879
48419 standard
Carsonville, MI
Pop: 2,740

Related Areas

Sanilac County Sandusky, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48471 in? ▼
ZIP code 48471 (Sandusky) is located in Sanilac County, Michigan. Sanilac County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sanilac-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48471? ▼
ZIP code 48471 in Sandusky, MI has a population of 5,745 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48471? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48471 is $62,844, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48471? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48471 is $142,700, which is 49% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48471? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48471 is White at 91.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48471? ▼
ZIP code 48471 has 192 business establishments employing approximately 2,432 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48471? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48471 are: Retail trade (33), Health care and social assistance (33), Other services (except public administration) (22). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48471? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48471 increased by 3.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 40%. 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 48471? ▼
In ZIP code 48471, 61.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.8% 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 48471? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48471 is 24.1 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 48471? ▼
In ZIP code 48471, approximately 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48471? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48471 is 13.2% 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.