Dowagiac, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49047
Cass County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,805
- 48/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $62,963
- Median income Near-median income area
- $181,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 20.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Dowagiac pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 35th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 48
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49047 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 49047 (Dowagiac, MI) rose +9.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 203.8 in 2023 to 222.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 49047 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan, home to 14,805 residents across 309.7 square miles, a density of 48 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49047 reports a modest median household income of $62,963 (14% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,968. The poverty rate is 15.6%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $181,700 (17% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $858; owner occupancy is 76.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cass County, so 49047 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 49047
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Dowagiac, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49047.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
38 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
31 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
27 establishments
- Construction
Construction
23 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 49047, Dowagiac, 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
14,805
Population
309.7
Area (sq mi)
48
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49047?
42.9
Median Age
50.7%
Male
49.3%
Female
3.9%
Foreign-Born
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?
$62,963
Median Household Income
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$35,968
Per Capita Income
15.6%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
22.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49047 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Dowagiac, MI household income vs. every Michigan ZIP code
Median household income among 962 reporting Michigan ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$62,963 37th percentile higher than 37% of 962 Michigan ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Michigan 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,364housing units
8,364
Total Housing Units
6,301
Occupied Units
2,063
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$181,700
Median Home Value
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$858
Median Rent
1964
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
+9.0%
YoY Change (2024)
222
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+122%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49047 have increased 9.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +122% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.4% | 147 |
| 2021 | +11.7% | 164 |
| 2022 | +15.1% | 188 |
| 2023 | +8.1% | 204 |
| 2024 | +9.0% | 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 263 business establishments in ZIP 49047, employing approximately 2,400 people with a combined annual payroll of $107,553,000.
263
Businesses
2,400
Employees
$107.6M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 46 | 17.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 38 | 14.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 31 | 11.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 27 | 10.3% |
| Construction | 23 | 8.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 | 4.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 4.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.1% |
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 49047 vs 49102 →
ZIP 49047 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49047
Dowagiac (49047)
14,805 residents
- 49031
Cassopolis (49031)
7,884 residents
- 49045 5,598
Decatur (49045)
5,598 residents
- 49102 1,563
Berrien Center (49102)
1,563 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49047 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49047 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49031
Cassopolis (49031)
$66,944 median income
- 49102
Berrien Center (49102)
$63,000 median income
- 49047
Dowagiac (49047)
$62,963 median income
- 49045
Decatur (49045)
$57,436 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49047 ranks #3 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 49047, both outside MI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (14,805 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cass County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49047 in?
ZIP code 49047 (Dowagiac) is located in Cass County, Michigan. Cass County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cass-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49047?
ZIP code 49047 in Dowagiac, MI has a population of 14,805 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49047?
The median household income in ZIP 49047 is $62,963, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49047?
The median home value in ZIP 49047 is $181,700, which is 35% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49047?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49047 is White at 83.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49047?
ZIP code 49047 has 263 business establishments employing approximately 2,400 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49047?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49047 are: Retail trade (46), Other services (except public administration) (38), Health care and social assistance (31). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49047?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49047 increased by 9.0% 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 49047?
In ZIP code 49047, 53.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.3% 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 49047?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49047 is 22.0 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 49047?
In ZIP code 49047, approximately 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49047?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49047 is 15.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 49047's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49047 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Dowagiac, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.