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 High-density area
- $38,900
- Median income Below-median income area
- $62,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 9.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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
- 2nd 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 48601 (Saginaw, MI) rose +7.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 152.2 in 2023 to 163.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $21,720. The poverty rate is 31.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $62,800 (71% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $856; owner occupancy is 67.2%.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Saginaw County, so 48601 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 48601
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saginaw, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48601.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
87 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
75 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
66 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
51 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
47 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 48601?
38.2
Median Age
44.2%
Male
55.8%
Female
1.2%
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?
$38,900
Median Household Income
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$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
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,924housing units
15,924
Total Housing Units
13,323
Occupied Units
2,601
Vacant Units
2.35
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$62,800
Median Home Value
-71% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 48601
Saginaw (48601)
38,406 residents
- 48602
Saginaw (48602)
30,119 residents
- 48603
Saginaw (48603)
26,913 residents
- 48604 13,074
Saginaw (48604)
13,074 residents
- 48638 12,922
Saginaw (48638)
12,922 residents
- 48415 9,471
Birch Run (48415)
9,471 residents
- 48734 7,444
Frankenmuth (48734)
7,444 residents
- 48722 3,123
Bridgeport (48722)
3,123 residents
- 48417 2,983
Burt (48417)
2,983 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48601 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48601 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48734
Frankenmuth (48734)
$91,032 median income
- 48415
Birch Run (48415)
$79,067 median income
- 48417
Burt (48417)
$72,422 median income
- 48638
Saginaw (48638)
$69,459 median income
- 48722
Bridgeport (48722)
$66,473 median income
- 48603
Saginaw (48603)
$66,352 median income
- 48604
Saginaw (48604)
$53,042 median income
- 48602
Saginaw (48602)
$46,984 median income
- 48601
Saginaw (48601)
$38,900 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48601, 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 (38,406 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Saginaw County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 48601's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48601 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Saginaw, 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.