PlainZIP

Ionia, MI · standard

ZIP Code 48846

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

20,269
72/sq mi
$66,742
Median income
$172,700
Median home value
12.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ionia pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

41th pct
household income, US ZIPs
35th pct
home value, US ZIPs
72
people per sq mi
68%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48846 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 48846 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan, with 20,269 residents across 280.7 square miles, a density of 72 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 48846 reports a modest median household income of $66,742 (9% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $27,379. 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 4.5%. On housing, the median home value is $172,700 (21% below the state average) with median rent at $885 per month, and 68.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Ionia County, so you can benchmark 48846 against its immediate geography rather than a 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 48846

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ionia, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48846.

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 48846, Ionia, 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

20,269

Population

280.7

Area (sq mi)

72

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 48846?

39.2

Median Age

59.7%

Male

40.3%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 80.7%
African American 8.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%

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?

$66,742

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$27,379

Per Capita Income

13.1%

Poverty Rate

4.5%

Unemployment Rate

23.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 48846 ranks nationally

Ionia, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$66,742 41st percentile higher than 41% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 56.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.5%

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

What does housing look like?

7,484

Total Housing Units

7,081

Occupied Units

403

Vacant Units

2.60

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 68.1%
Renter 31.9%

$172,700

Median Home Value

-21% vs state

$885

Median Rent

1962

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

+7.3%

YoY Change (2024)

222

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+122%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 48846 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +122% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.0% 142
2021 +13.6% 161
2022 +13.5% 183
2023 +13.1% 207
2024 +7.3% 222

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 300 business establishments in ZIP 48846, employing approximately 5,384 people with a combined annual payroll of $223,461,000.

300

Businesses

5,384

Employees

$223.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 59 19.7%
Health care and social assistance 51 17.0%
Other services (except public administration) 47 15.7%
Accommodation and food services 32 10.7%
Finance and insurance 24 8.0%
Construction 22 7.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 4.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 13 4.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 3.7%
Manufacturing 8 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 2.7%
Wholesale trade 4 1.3%
Transportation and warehousing 3 1.0%
Information 3 1.0%

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 48846 vs 48865 →

ZIP 48846 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 48846 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 48846 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 48846 ranks #4 of 8 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
48865 Orleans, MI 1,903 7.3 mi
48851 Lyons, MI 2,365 6.3 mi
48834 Fenwick, MI 2,090 10.1 mi
48870 Palo, MI 148 9.3 mi
48881 Saranac, MI 5,501 8.2 mi
48860 Muir, MI 1,334 8.7 mi
48875 Portland, MI 10,186 10.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Ionia County

48809 standard
Belding, MI
Pop: 11,015
48875 standard
Portland, MI
Pop: 10,186
48849 standard
Lake Odessa, MI
Pop: 5,717
48881 standard
Saranac, MI
Pop: 5,501
48851 standard
Lyons, MI
Pop: 2,365
48815 standard
Clarksville, MI
Pop: 2,259

Related Areas

Ionia County Ionia, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 48846 in? ▼
ZIP code 48846 (Ionia) is located in Ionia County, Michigan. Ionia County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ionia-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48846? ▼
ZIP code 48846 in Ionia, MI has a population of 20,269 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48846? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 48846 is $66,742, which is 13% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48846? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 48846 is $172,700, which is 38% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48846? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 48846 is White at 80.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48846? ▼
ZIP code 48846 has 300 business establishments employing approximately 5,384 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48846? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48846 are: Retail trade (59), Health care and social assistance (51), Other services (except public administration) (47). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48846? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48846 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 122%. 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 48846? ▼
In ZIP code 48846, 56.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.5% 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 48846? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48846 is 23.5 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 48846? ▼
In ZIP code 48846, approximately 68.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48846? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48846 is 13.1% 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.