Grand Rapids, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49503
Kent County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 35,940
- 1,933/sq mi High-density area
- $64,661
- Median income Near-median income area
- $241,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 44.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Grand Rapids pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 38th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 45%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,933
- people per sq mi
- 36%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49503 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 49503 (Grand Rapids, MI) rose +6.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 294.1 in 2023 to 312.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 49503 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, with 35,940 residents across 18.6 square miles, a density of 1,933 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49503 reports a modest median household income of $64,661 (12% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,781. The poverty rate is 20.7%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $241,900 (10% above the average Michigan ZIP) and median rent is $1,301; 36.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 44.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.1, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Kent County, so 49503 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 49503
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Grand Rapids, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49503.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
320 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
229 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
198 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
191 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
161 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 49503, Grand Rapids, 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
35,940
Population
18.6
Area (sq mi)
1,933
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49503?
31.1
Median Age
50.9%
Male
49.1%
Female
11.0%
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?
$64,661
Median Household Income
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$37,781
Per Capita Income
20.7%
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Unemployment Rate
18.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49503 ranks nationally
Grand Rapids, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$64,661 38th percentile higher than 38% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
19,328housing units
19,328
Total Housing Units
17,960
Occupied Units
1,368
Vacant Units
2.08
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$241,900
Median Home Value
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$1,301
Median Rent
1938
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
+6.1%
YoY Change (2024)
312
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+212%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49503 have increased 6.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +212% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.8% | 198 |
| 2021 | +14.5% | 227 |
| 2022 | +19.3% | 271 |
| 2023 | +8.5% | 294 |
| 2024 | +6.1% | 312 |
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 1,717 business establishments in ZIP 49503, employing approximately 52,626 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,794,127,000.
1,717
Businesses
52,626
Employees
$3.8B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 320 | 18.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 229 | 13.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 198 | 11.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 191 | 11.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 161 | 9.4% |
| Retail trade | 128 | 7.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 79 | 4.6% |
| Manufacturing | 75 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 74 | 4.3% |
| Construction | 65 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 49 | 2.9% |
| Information | 42 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 29 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 27 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 24 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 1.3% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.2% |
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 49503 vs 49507 →
ZIP 49503 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49504
Grand Rapids (49504)
39,994 residents
- 49508
Grand Rapids (49508)
39,148 residents
- 49503
Grand Rapids (49503)
35,940 residents
- 49507
Grand Rapids (49507)
35,459 residents
- 49506
Grand Rapids (49506)
31,354 residents
- 49505
Grand Rapids (49505)
31,216 residents
- 49548
Grand Rapids (49548)
30,524 residents
- 49519
Wyoming (49519)
27,424 residents
- 49525
Grand Rapids (49525)
27,383 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49503 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49503 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49506
Grand Rapids (49506)
$118,131 median income
- 49525
Grand Rapids (49525)
$94,037 median income
- 49321
Comstock Park (49321)
$77,870 median income
- 49505
Grand Rapids (49505)
$74,906 median income
- 49519
Wyoming (49519)
$73,762 median income
- 49508
Grand Rapids (49508)
$70,120 median income
- 49504
Grand Rapids (49504)
$70,119 median income
- 49509
Wyoming (49509)
$65,132 median income
- 49503
Grand Rapids (49503)
$64,661 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49503 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49507 | Grand Rapids, MI | 35,459 | 2.2 mi |
| 49505 | Grand Rapids, MI | 31,216 | 2.7 mi |
| 49506 | Grand Rapids, MI | 31,354 | 2.6 mi |
| 49504 | Grand Rapids, MI | 39,994 | 2.8 mi |
| 49548 | Grand Rapids, MI | 30,524 | 6.4 mi |
| 49509 | Wyoming, MI | 26,720 | 4.8 mi |
| 49508 | Grand Rapids, MI | 39,148 | 6.4 mi |
| 49519 | Wyoming, MI | 27,424 | 5.4 mi |
| 49525 | Grand Rapids, MI | 27,383 | 5.3 mi |
| 49321 | Comstock Park, MI | 16,241 | 7.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 49503, 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 (35,940 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Kent County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49503 in?
ZIP code 49503 (Grand Rapids) is located in Kent County, Michigan. Kent County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kent-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49503?
ZIP code 49503 in Grand Rapids, MI has a population of 35,940 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49503?
The median household income in ZIP 49503 is $64,661, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49503?
The median home value in ZIP 49503 is $241,900, which is 13% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49503?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49503 is White at 61.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49503?
ZIP code 49503 has 1,717 business establishments employing approximately 52,626 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49503?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49503 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (320), Health care and social assistance (229), Accommodation and food services (198). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49503?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49503 increased by 6.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 212%. 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 49503?
In ZIP code 49503, 64.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 44.8% 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 49503?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49503 is 18.5 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 49503?
In ZIP code 49503, approximately 36.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49503?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49503 is 20.7% 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 49503's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49503 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Grand Rapids, 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.