ZIP Code 48638

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Source:

Saginaw · Saginaw County · Michigan

Population
12,922

755/sq mi

Median income
$69,459

▼ 9% vs US

higher than 46% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$172,600

▼ 38% vs US

higher than 35% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
34.4%

Median age 43.6

Land area
17.1 sq mi

Detroit

ZIP code 48638 in Saginaw, Michigan has a population of 12,922. The median household income is $69,459, which is 9% below the national average. Median home value is $172,600, 38% below the US average. 34.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 48638 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 17.1 square miles in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. The area is home to 12,922 residents, producing a population density of 755 people per square mile, and falls within the Detroit time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 48638 against Michigan and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 48638 sits at $69,459 (5% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $42,122. The poverty rate stands at 13.4% and the unemployment rate at 3.8%. On housing, the median home value is $172,600 (21% below the state average) with median rent at $949 per month, and 62.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 48638 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 34.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.6, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Saginaw County, so you can benchmark 48638 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 48638

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48638.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48638, Saginaw, MI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

12,922

Population

17.1

Area (sq mi)

755

People / sq mi

Detroit

Time Zone

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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 48638?

43.6

Median Age

47.6%

Male

52.4%

Female

2.8%

Foreign-Born

White 74.4%
African American 18.5%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%

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?

$69,459

Median Household Income

-5% vs state

$42,122

Per Capita Income

13.4%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

23.6 min

Mean Commute Time

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

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 59.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 34.4%

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

What does housing look like?

6,435

Total Housing Units

5,910

Occupied Units

525

Vacant Units

2.17

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 62.1%
Renter 37.9%

$172,600

Median Home Value

-21% vs state

$949

Median Rent

1972

Median Year Built

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

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

+3.7%

YoY Change (2024)

158

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+58%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48638 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +58% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.7% 109
2021 +10.2% 120
2022 +11.7% 134
2023 +13.8% 153
2024 +3.7% 158

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 214 business establishments in ZIP 48638, employing approximately 2,208 people with a combined annual payroll of $92,431,000.

214

Businesses

2,208

Employees

$92.4M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 57 26.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 33 15.4%
Other services (except public administration) 30 14.0%
Finance and insurance 15 7.0%
Retail trade 14 6.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 6.5%
Accommodation and food services 14 6.5%
Construction 13 6.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 12 5.6%
Educational services 4 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 1.4%

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 48638 vs 48602 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
48602 Saginaw, MI 30,119 2.3 mi
48603 Saginaw, MI 26,913 3.2 mi
48609 Saginaw, MI 12,461 4.0 mi
48607 Saginaw, MI 1,774 4.4 mi
48604 Saginaw, MI 13,074 6.1 mi
48601 Saginaw, MI 38,406 6.4 mi
48724 Carrollton, MI 359 5.7 mi
48710 University Center, MI 0 9.8 mi
48623 Freeland, MI 13,993 9.2 mi
48655 Saint Charles, MI 6,460 11.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Saginaw County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48638 in?
ZIP code 48638 (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 48638?
ZIP code 48638 in Saginaw, MI has a population of 12,922 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48638?
The median household income in ZIP 48638 is $69,459, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48638?
The median home value in ZIP 48638 is $172,600, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48638?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48638 is White at 74.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48638?
ZIP code 48638 has 214 business establishments employing approximately 2,208 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48638?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48638 are: Health care and social assistance (57), Professional, scientific, and technical services (33), Other services (except public administration) (30). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48638?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48638 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 58%. 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 48638?
In ZIP code 48638, 59.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.4% 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 48638?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48638 is 23.6 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 48638?
In ZIP code 48638, approximately 62.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48638?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48638 is 13.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Saginaw, MI

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

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