ZIP Code 49503
standardSource:
Grand Rapids · Kent County · Michigan
- Population
- 35,940
- Median income
- $64,661
- Median home value
- $241,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 44.8%
- Land area
- 18.6 sq mi
1,933/sq mi
▼ 15% vs US
higher than 38% of US ZIPs
▼ 13% vs US
higher than 55% of US ZIPs
Median age 31.1
Detroit
ZIP code 49503 in Grand Rapids, Michigan has a population of 35,940. The median household income is $64,661, which is 15% below the national average. Median home value is $241,900, 13% below the US average. 44.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 49503 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 18.6 square miles in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. The area is home to 35,940 residents, producing a population density of 1,933 people per square mile, and falls within the Detroit time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 49503 against Michigan and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 49503 sits at $64,661 (12% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $37,781. The poverty rate stands at 20.7% and the unemployment rate at 4.8%. On housing, the median home value is $241,900 (10% above the state average) with median rent at $1,301 per month, and 36.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 49503 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 44.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.1, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Kent County, so you can benchmark 49503 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 49503
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$37,781
Per Capita Income
20.7%
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Unemployment Rate
18.5 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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 |
More ZIP Codes in Kent County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49503 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 49503? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 49503? ▼
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 49503? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49503? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49503? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 49503? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 49503? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 49503? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Grand Rapids, MI
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.