Mears, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49436
Oceana County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 1,622
- 20/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $67,279
- Median income Near-median income area
- $255,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Mears pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 41%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 20
- people per sq mi
- 93%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49436 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 49436 covers 81.1 square miles in Mears, Oceana County, Michigan (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 1,622 residents on file, a density of 20 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49436 reports a modest median household income of $67,279 (8% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,070. Unemployment is 13.6%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $255,000 (16% above the average Michigan ZIP), while 92.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,013.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 59.9, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Oceana County, so 49436 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 49436
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mears, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49436.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
20 establishments
- Retail trade 7
Retail trade
7 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 6
Real estate and rental and leasing
6 establishments
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
5 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 5
Other services (except public administration)
5 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 49436, Mears, 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
1,622
Population
81.1
Area (sq mi)
20
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49436?
59.9
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
3.3%
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?
$67,279
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$40,070
Per Capita Income
8.2%
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Unemployment Rate
27.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49436 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Mears, 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)
$67,279 48th percentile higher than 48% 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
2,239housing units
2,239
Total Housing Units
779
Occupied Units
1,460
Vacant Units
2.10
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$255,000
Median Home Value
+16% vs state ZIP avg
$1,013
Median Rent
1981
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
+26.2%
YoY Change (2024)
334
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+234%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49436 have increased 26.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +234% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +5.8% | 180 |
| 2020 | +8.3% | 196 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 213 |
| 2022 | +26.2% | 268 |
| 2024 | – | 334 |
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 52 business establishments in ZIP 49436, employing approximately 152 people with a combined annual payroll of $10,612,000.
52
Businesses
152
Employees
$10.6M
Annual Payroll
6
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 20 | 38.5% |
| Retail trade | 7 | 13.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 11.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 9.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 5 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 4 | 7.7% |
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 49436 vs 49455 →
ZIP 49436 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49455
Shelby (49455)
5,034 residents
- 49449
Pentwater (49449)
2,675 residents
- 49446
New Era (49446)
2,321 residents
- 49436 1,622
Mears (49436)
1,622 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49436 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49436 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49449
Pentwater (49449)
$80,917 median income
- 49436
Mears (49436)
$67,279 median income
- 49446
New Era (49446)
$65,217 median income
- 49455
Shelby (49455)
$63,621 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49436 ranks #2 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 49436, 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 (1,622 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Oceana County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49436 in?
ZIP code 49436 (Mears) is located in Oceana County, Michigan. Oceana County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/oceana-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49436?
ZIP code 49436 in Mears, MI has a population of 1,622 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49436?
The median household income in ZIP 49436 is $67,279, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49436?
The median home value in ZIP 49436 is $255,000, which is 8% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49436?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49436 is White at 89.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49436?
ZIP code 49436 has 52 business establishments employing approximately 152 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49436?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49436 are: Accommodation and food services (20), Retail trade (7), Real estate and rental and leasing (6). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49436?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49436 increased by 26.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 234%. 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 49436?
In ZIP code 49436, 57.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.9% 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 49436?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49436 is 27.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 49436?
In ZIP code 49436, approximately 92.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 7.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49436?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49436 is 8.2% 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 49436's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49436 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Mears, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.