Hillsdale, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49242
Hillsdale County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,248
- 65/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $61,029
- Median income Below-median income area
- $183,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hillsdale pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 31st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 39th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 65
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49242 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 49242 (Hillsdale, MI) rose +9.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 181.3 in 2023 to 198.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 49242 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan, home to 15,248 residents across 234.6 square miles, a density of 65 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49242 reports a modest median household income of $61,029 (17% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,984. The poverty rate is 15.1%, with unemployment at 4.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $183,700 (16% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $806; owner occupancy is 73.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.6, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Hillsdale County, so 49242 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 49242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hillsdale, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49242.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
58 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
49 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
47 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
24 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 49242, Hillsdale, 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
15,248
Population
234.6
Area (sq mi)
65
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49242?
37.6
Median Age
48.9%
Male
51.1%
Female
2.3%
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?
$61,029
Median Household Income
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$29,984
Per Capita Income
15.1%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
17.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49242 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Hillsdale, 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)
$61,029 31st percentile higher than 31% 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
6,576housing units
6,576
Total Housing Units
5,427
Occupied Units
1,149
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$183,700
Median Home Value
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$806
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
+9.6%
YoY Change (2024)
199
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+99%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49242 have increased 9.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +99% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.4% | 131 |
| 2021 | +12.2% | 147 |
| 2022 | +15.8% | 170 |
| 2023 | +6.8% | 181 |
| 2024 | +9.6% | 199 |
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 338 business establishments in ZIP 49242, employing approximately 5,185 people with a combined annual payroll of $245,514,000.
338
Businesses
5,185
Employees
$245.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 58 | 17.2% |
| Retail trade | 49 | 14.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 47 | 13.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 10.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 24 | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 23 | 6.8% |
| Construction | 16 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 3.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 11 | 3.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.1% |
| Information | 6 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.5% |
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 49242 vs 49266 →
ZIP 49242 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49242
Hillsdale (49242)
15,248 residents
- 49250
Jonesville (49250)
6,182 residents
- 49274 3,670
Reading (49274)
3,670 residents
- 49266 2,942
Osseo (49266)
2,942 residents
- 49232 2,801
Camden (49232)
2,801 residents
- 49262 1,280
North Adams (49262)
1,280 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49242 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49242 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49266
Osseo (49266)
$66,173 median income
- 49250
Jonesville (49250)
$65,744 median income
- 49242
Hillsdale (49242)
$61,029 median income
- 49274
Reading (49274)
$58,087 median income
- 49232
Camden (49232)
$56,324 median income
- 49262
North Adams (49262)
$54,423 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49242 ranks #3 of 6 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 49242, 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 (15,248 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Hillsdale County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49242 in?
ZIP code 49242 (Hillsdale) is located in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Hillsdale County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/hillsdale-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49242?
ZIP code 49242 in Hillsdale, MI has a population of 15,248 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49242?
The median household income in ZIP 49242 is $61,029, which is 20% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49242?
The median home value in ZIP 49242 is $183,700, which is 34% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49242?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49242 is White at 91.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49242?
ZIP code 49242 has 338 business establishments employing approximately 5,185 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49242?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49242 are: Health care and social assistance (58), Retail trade (49), Other services (except public administration) (47). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49242?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49242 increased by 9.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 99%. 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 49242?
In ZIP code 49242, 65.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.1% 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 49242?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49242 is 17.6 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 49242?
In ZIP code 49242, approximately 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49242?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49242 is 15.1% 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 49242's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49242 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hillsdale, 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.