PlainZIP

Whitehall, MI · standard

ZIP Code 49461

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

8,929
79/sq mi
$83,363
Median income
$265,300
Median home value
30.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Whitehall pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 34%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 39%
home value, US ZIPs
79
people per sq mi
89%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49461 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 49461 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Whitehall, Muskegon County, Michigan, home to 8,929 residents across 112.7 square miles, a density of 79 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 49461 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $83,363 (14% above the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $41,711. 9.7% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 2.7%. Median home value sits at $265,300 (21% above the state average), median rent at $960 a month, and owner-occupancy at 88.7%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.5, and the average commute is 18 minutes. To put 49461 in local context, 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Muskegon County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 49461

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whitehall, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49461.

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 49461, Whitehall, 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

8,929

Population

112.7

Area (sq mi)

79

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 49461?

45.5

Median Age

49.4%

Male

50.6%

Female

1.1%

Foreign-Born

White 89.6%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.2%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%

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?

$83,363

Median Household Income

+14% vs state

$41,711

Per Capita Income

9.7%

Poverty Rate

2.7%

Unemployment Rate

17.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49461 ranks nationally

Whitehall, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$83,363 Top 34% higher than 66% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $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 58.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 30.2%

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

What does housing look like?

4,309

Total Housing Units

3,755

Occupied Units

554

Vacant Units

2.53

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 88.7%
Renter 11.3%

$265,300

Median Home Value

+21% vs state

$960

Median Rent

1979

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

+8.3%

YoY Change (2024)

218

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+118%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 49461 have increased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +118% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.9% 146
2021 +13.9% 166
2022 +13.0% 188
2023 +7.1% 201
2024 +8.3% 218

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 242 business establishments in ZIP 49461, employing approximately 4,287 people with a combined annual payroll of $231,762,000.

242

Businesses

4,287

Employees

$231.8M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 45 18.6%
Health care and social assistance 35 14.5%
Accommodation and food services 30 12.4%
Other services (except public administration) 27 11.2%
Construction 21 8.7%
Manufacturing 17 7.0%
Finance and insurance 15 6.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 13 5.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 3.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9 3.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 2.9%
Wholesale trade 4 1.6%
Information 4 1.6%

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 49461 vs 49445 →

ZIP 49461 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 49461 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 49461 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 49461 ranks #2 of 5 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
49445 Muskegon, MI 20,784 6.4 mi
49437 Montague, MI 6,902 6.1 mi
49452 Rothbury, MI 1,952 9.6 mi
49440 Muskegon, MI 953 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Muskegon County

49442 standard
Muskegon, MI
Pop: 41,214
49441 standard
Muskegon, MI
Pop: 36,308
49444 standard
Muskegon, MI
Pop: 29,456
49445 standard
Muskegon, MI
Pop: 20,784
49457 standard
Twin Lake, MI
Pop: 10,565
49437 standard
Montague, MI
Pop: 6,902

Related Areas

Muskegon County Whitehall, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 49461 in? ▼
ZIP code 49461 (Whitehall) is located in Muskegon County, Michigan. Muskegon County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/muskegon-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49461? ▼
ZIP code 49461 in Whitehall, MI has a population of 8,929 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49461? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 49461 is $83,363, which is 9% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49461? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 49461 is $265,300, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49461? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 49461 is White at 89.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49461? ▼
ZIP code 49461 has 242 business establishments employing approximately 4,287 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49461? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49461 are: Retail trade (45), Health care and social assistance (35), Accommodation and food services (30). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49461? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49461 increased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 118%. 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 49461? ▼
In ZIP code 49461, 58.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.2% 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 49461? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49461 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 49461? ▼
In ZIP code 49461, approximately 88.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49461? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49461 is 9.7% 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.