ZIP Code 48846

standard

Source:

Ionia · Ionia County · Michigan

Population
20,269

72/sq mi

Median income
$66,742

▼ 13% vs US

higher than 41% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$172,700

▼ 38% vs US

higher than 35% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
12.5%

Median age 39.2

Land area
280.7 sq mi

Detroit

ZIP code 48846 in Ionia, Michigan has a population of 20,269. The median household income is $66,742, which is 13% below the national average. Median home value is $172,700, 38% below the US average. 12.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 48846 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 280.7 square miles in Ionia, Ionia County, Michigan. The area is home to 20,269 residents, producing a population density of 72 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 48846 against Michigan and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 48846 sits at $66,742 (9% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $27,379. The poverty rate stands at 13.1% and the unemployment rate at 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, a direct signal of whether 48846 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 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 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 48846

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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

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)

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 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

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.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Ionia, 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.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.