PlainZIP

Saginaw, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48601

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

38,406
141/sq mi
$38,900
Median income
$62,800
Median home value
9.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Saginaw pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

5th pct
household income, US ZIPs
2th pct
home value, US ZIPs
141
people per sq mi
67%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48601 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48601 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, with 38,406 residents across 271.8 square miles, a density of 141 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48601 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,900 (47% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $21,720. The poverty rate stands at 31.6% and the unemployment rate at 8.6%. The typical home here is valued at $62,800 (71% below the state average); renters pay a median of $856 monthly, and 67.2% of units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.2, and the average commute is 21 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 48601, plus 6 more within Saginaw County, give a clearer read than the 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 48601

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saginaw, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48601.

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 48601, Saginaw, 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

38,406

Population

271.8

Area (sq mi)

141

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 48601?

38.2

Median Age

44.2%

Male

55.8%

Female

1.2%

Foreign-Born

White 30.6%
African American 58.8%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%

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?

$38,900

Median Household Income

-47% vs state

$21,720

Per Capita Income

31.6%

Poverty Rate

8.6%

Unemployment Rate

21.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48601 ranks nationally

Saginaw, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$38,900 5th percentile higher than 5% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 48.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 9.9%

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

What does housing look like?

15,924

Total Housing Units

13,323

Occupied Units

2,601

Vacant Units

2.35

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.2%
Renter 32.8%

$62,800

Median Home Value

-71% vs state

$856

Median Rent

1958

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

+7.5%

YoY Change (2024)

164

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+64%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48601 have increased 7.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +64% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.3% 114
2021 +14.3% 131
2022 +9.4% 143
2023 +6.4% 152
2024 +7.5% 164

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 507 business establishments in ZIP 48601, employing approximately 13,496 people with a combined annual payroll of $907,758,000.

507

Businesses

13,496

Employees

$907.8M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 87 17.2%
Health care and social assistance 75 14.8%
Other services (except public administration) 66 13.0%
Manufacturing 51 10.1%
Wholesale trade 47 9.3%
Transportation and warehousing 34 6.7%
Construction 31 6.1%
Accommodation and food services 30 5.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 23 4.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 17 3.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 16 3.2%
Finance and insurance 12 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 1.0%
Information 4 0.8%
Educational services 4 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 48601 vs 48607 →

ZIP 48601 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 48601 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 48601 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 48601 ranks #9 of 9 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
48607 Saginaw, MI 1,774 2.8 mi
48724 Carrollton, MI 359 4.1 mi
48602 Saginaw, MI 30,119 4.2 mi
48722 Bridgeport, MI 3,123 4.7 mi
48638 Saginaw, MI 12,922 6.4 mi
48604 Saginaw, MI 13,074 7.1 mi
48417 Burt, MI 2,983 10.2 mi
48603 Saginaw, MI 26,913 7.9 mi
48734 Frankenmuth, MI 7,444 8.3 mi
48415 Birch Run, MI 9,471 10.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Saginaw County

48602 standard
Saginaw, MI
Pop: 30,119
48603 standard
Saginaw, MI
Pop: 26,913
48623 standard
Freeland, MI
Pop: 13,993
48604 standard
Saginaw, MI
Pop: 13,074
48638 standard
Saginaw, MI
Pop: 12,922
48609 standard
Saginaw, MI
Pop: 12,461

Related Areas

Saginaw County Saginaw, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48601 in? ▼
ZIP code 48601 (Saginaw) is located in Saginaw County, Michigan. Saginaw County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/saginaw-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48601? ▼
ZIP code 48601 in Saginaw, MI has a population of 38,406 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48601? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48601 is $38,900, which is 49% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48601? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48601 is $62,800, which is 77% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48601? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48601 is African American at 58.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48601? ▼
ZIP code 48601 has 507 business establishments employing approximately 13,496 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48601? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48601 are: Retail trade (87), Health care and social assistance (75), Other services (except public administration) (66). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48601? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48601 increased by 7.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 64%. 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 48601? ▼
In ZIP code 48601, 48.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 9.9% 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 48601? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48601 is 21.0 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 48601? ▼
In ZIP code 48601, approximately 67.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48601? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48601 is 31.6% 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.