Residential delivery area · Michigan
ZIP Code 48659: Sterling, MI
ZIP code 48659 uses the postal name Sterling, Michigan and lies mostly in Arenac County (98% of its land) with the rest in Bay County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 2,600 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $58,750 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Sterling; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2024
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Sterling · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Arenac County (98%); Bay County (2%)
- Census places
- Sterling
- House districts
- MI-1 (98%), MI-8 (2%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Michigan
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 76.1 sq mi · 34 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 48659?
48659 centers on 44.066°, -84.051° and covers 76.1 square miles of land plus 0.3 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 48749, 48658, 48610, 48613, 48766, 48756, 48624.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 48659, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 48659 compare with the rest of Arenac County?
| Measure | 48659 | In Arenac County | In MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 2,563 | 6th of 9 | 628th of 992 |
| Median household income | $59k | 5th of 8 | 602nd of 774 |
| Median home value | $146k | 5th of 8 | 669th of 779 |
Its median household income is higher than in 27% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 35% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 48659?
The 2020 Census counted 2,640 people in 48659; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 2,563. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 7.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 2,563±269 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 2,640−7.4% since 2010 (2,850)
- Households
- 993
- Median age
- 39.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 48659?
Of the 2,563 people the ACS estimates in 48659, 21.7% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (94.5%).
- Under 1821.7%
- 18 to 6461.6%
- 65 and older16.7%
- White, not Hispanic94.5%
- Other or two or more4.5%
- Hispanic or Latino0.6%
- Black, not Hispanic0.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 48659 earn?
Median household income is $58,750 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 8 ranked ZIP codes in Arenac County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($54,119 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $58,750±$6,452
- Income per person
- $28,446
- Below the poverty line
- 17.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 13.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $55,6301,260 returns; wages 71% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 48659?
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $146,200
- Median gross rent
- $853
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 88.9%
- Housing units
- 1,279
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 48659?
38 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 2 more than in 2018; the most are in accommodation and food services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Accommodation and food services8
- Health care and social assistance7
- Construction4
- Manufacturing4
- Retail trade4
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 48659?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48749 | Omer | 1,271 | $52k | 7.5 mi |
| 48658 | Standish | 4,694 | $54k | 8.4 mi |
| 48610 | Alger | 3,300 | $59k | 8.8 mi |
| 48613 | Bentley | 1,081 | $59k | 9.7 mi |
| 48766 | Twining | 1,328 | $57k | 10.1 mi |
| 48756 | Prescott | 4,060 | $46k | 12.2 mi |
| 48624 | Gladwin | 16,234 | $55k | 20.2 mi |
| 48650 | Pinconning | 6,510 | $62k | 15.1 mi (near) |
| 48652 | Rhodes | 1,832 | $70k | 17.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.