PlainZIP

Sterling, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48659

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

2,850
14/sq mi
$58,750
Median income
$146,200
Median home value
13.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Sterling pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

27th pct
household income, US ZIPs
24th pct
home value, US ZIPs
14
people per sq mi
89%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48659 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48659 covers 206.5 square miles in Sterling, Arenac County, Michigan (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,850 residents on file, a density of 14 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48659 reports a modest median household income of $58,750 (20% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $28,446. Local economic indicators show a 17.2% poverty rate alongside 4.0% unemployment. Median home value sits at $146,200 (33% below the state average), median rent at $853 a month, and owner-occupancy at 88.9%.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 28 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 3 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 48659, plus 6 more within Arenac 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 48659

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sterling, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48659.

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 48659, Sterling, 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

2,850

Population

206.5

Area (sq mi)

14

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 48659?

39.6

Median Age

51.7%

Male

48.3%

Female

0.2%

Foreign-Born

White 94.5%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 0.6%

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?

$58,750

Median Household Income

-20% vs state

$28,446

Per Capita Income

17.2%

Poverty Rate

4.0%

Unemployment Rate

27.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48659 ranks nationally

Sterling, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$58,750 27th percentile higher than 27% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $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 49.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.6%

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

What does housing look like?

1,279

Total Housing Units

993

Occupied Units

286

Vacant Units

2.54

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 88.9%
Renter 11.1%

$146,200

Median Home Value

-33% vs state

$853

Median Rent

1978

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

+20.3%

YoY Change (2024)

156

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+56%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48659 have increased 20.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +56% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2018 -9.8% 112
2019 +11.4% 125
2020 -2.7% 122
2021 +20.3% 146
2024 – 156

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 38 business establishments in ZIP 48659, employing approximately 342 people with a combined annual payroll of $16,286,000.

38

Businesses

342

Employees

$16.3M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 8 21.1%
Health care and social assistance 7 18.4%
Construction 4 10.5%
Manufacturing 4 10.5%
Retail trade 4 10.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 10.5%

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 48659 vs 48610 →

ZIP 48659 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 48659 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 48659 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 48659 ranks #3 of 4 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
48610 Alger, MI 3,083 7.5 mi
48658 Standish, MI 5,138 8.2 mi
48613 Bentley, MI 1,158 9.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Arenac County

48658 standard
Standish, MI
Pop: 5,138
48703 standard
Au Gres, MI
Pop: 3,238
48610 standard
Alger, MI
Pop: 3,083
48766 standard
Twining, MI
Pop: 1,270
48749 standard
Omer, MI
Pop: 1,094
48765 standard
Turner, MI
Pop: 725

Related Areas

Arenac County Sterling, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48659 in? ▼
ZIP code 48659 (Sterling) is located in Arenac County, Michigan. Arenac County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/arenac-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48659? ▼
ZIP code 48659 in Sterling, MI has a population of 2,850 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48659? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48659 is $58,750, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48659? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48659 is $146,200, which is 47% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48659? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48659 is White at 94.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48659? ▼
ZIP code 48659 has 38 business establishments employing approximately 342 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48659? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48659 are: Accommodation and food services (8), Health care and social assistance (7), Construction (4). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48659? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48659 increased by 20.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 56%. 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 48659? ▼
In ZIP code 48659, 49.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.6% 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 48659? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48659 is 27.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48659? ▼
In ZIP code 48659, approximately 88.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48659? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48659 is 17.2% 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.