PlainZIP

New Buffalo, MI · standard

ZIP Code 49117

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

3,951
80/sq mi
$75,114
Median income
$488,000
Median home value
46.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

New Buffalo pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 45%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 14%
home value, US ZIPs
80
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49117 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 49117 covers 49.6 square miles in New Buffalo, Berrien County, Michigan (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,951 residents on file, a density of 80 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 49117 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,114 (2% above the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $63,180. 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 9.7%. The typical home here is valued at $488,000 (122% above the state average); renters pay a median of $866 monthly, and 76.5% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 57.4, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Berrien County, so you can benchmark 49117 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 49117

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in New Buffalo, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49117.

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 49117, New Buffalo, 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

3,951

Population

49.6

Area (sq mi)

80

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 49117?

57.4

Median Age

52.5%

Male

47.5%

Female

4.7%

Foreign-Born

White 90.5%
African American 0.2%
Asian 2.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%

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?

$75,114

Median Household Income

+2% vs state

$63,180

Per Capita Income

15.0%

Poverty Rate

9.7%

Unemployment Rate

23.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49117 ranks nationally

New Buffalo, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$75,114 Top 45% higher than 55% 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 71.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 46.7%

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

What does housing look like?

3,823

Total Housing Units

1,771

Occupied Units

2,052

Vacant Units

1.89

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.5%
Renter 23.5%

$488,000

Median Home Value

+122% vs state

$866

Median Rent

1976

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

+12.3%

YoY Change (2024)

309

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+209%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 49117 have increased 12.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +209% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.5% 195
2021 +10.0% 214
2022 +19.0% 255
2023 +8.1% 275
2024 +12.3% 309

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 160 business establishments in ZIP 49117, employing approximately 1,327 people with a combined annual payroll of $57,136,000.

160

Businesses

1,327

Employees

$57.1M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 28 17.5%
Accommodation and food services 28 17.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 18 11.3%
Construction 14 8.8%
Health care and social assistance 14 8.8%
Other services (except public administration) 14 8.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 12 7.5%
Finance and insurance 10 6.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 5.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 5.0%
Manufacturing 3 1.9%

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 49117 vs 49129 →

ZIP 49117 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 49117 ranks #2 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 49117 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 49117 ranks #5 of 7 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
49129 Union Pier, MI 609 3.2 mi
49116 Lakeside, MI 394 5.8 mi
49128 Three Oaks, MI 3,715 6.8 mi
49115 Harbert, MI 294 8.1 mi
46371 Rolling Prairie, IN 3,599 9.5 mi
46360 Michigan City, IN 43,625 9.8 mi
49125 Sawyer, MI 2,046 10.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Berrien County

49120 standard
Niles, MI
Pop: 37,122
49022 standard
Benton Harbor, MI
Pop: 31,814
49085 standard
Saint Joseph, MI
Pop: 23,804
49103 standard
Berrien Springs, MI
Pop: 11,082
49127 standard
Stevensville, MI
Pop: 10,694
49107 standard
Buchanan, MI
Pop: 10,382

Related Areas

Berrien County New Buffalo, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 49117 in? ▼
ZIP code 49117 (New Buffalo) is located in Berrien County, Michigan. Berrien County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/berrien-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49117? ▼
ZIP code 49117 in New Buffalo, MI has a population of 3,951 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49117? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 49117 is $75,114, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49117? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 49117 is $488,000, which is 75% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49117? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 49117 is White at 90.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49117? ▼
ZIP code 49117 has 160 business establishments employing approximately 1,327 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49117? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49117 are: Retail trade (28), Accommodation and food services (28), Real estate and rental and leasing (18). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49117? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49117 increased by 12.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 209%. 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 49117? ▼
In ZIP code 49117, 71.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.7% 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 49117? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49117 is 23.1 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 49117? ▼
In ZIP code 49117, approximately 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49117? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49117 is 15.0% 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.