ZIP Code 48659

ZIP code 48659 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 206.5 square miles in Sterling, Arenac County, Michigan. The area is home to 2,850 residents, producing a population density of 14 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 48659 against Michigan and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 48659 sits at $58,750 (20% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $28,446. The poverty rate stands at 17.2% and the unemployment rate at 4.0%. On housing, the median home value is $146,200 (33% below the state average) with median rent at $853 per month, and 88.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 48659 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 13.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Arenac County, so you can benchmark 48659 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 →