Grand Rapids, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49544
Kent County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,944
- 166/sq mi High-density area
- $74,390
- Median income Near-median income area
- $264,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 33.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Grand Rapids pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 46%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 166
- people per sq mi
- 65%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49544 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 49544 (Grand Rapids, MI) rose +1.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.8 in 2023 to 248.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 49544 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, home to 8,944 residents across 53.8 square miles, a density of 166 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49544 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $74,390 (1% above the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,151. The poverty rate is 10.3%, with unemployment at 4.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $264,000 (20% above the average Michigan ZIP), while 65.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,204.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.1, 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 49544 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 49544
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Grand Rapids, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49544.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
65 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
63 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
57 establishments
- Construction
Construction
56 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
56 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 49544, 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
8,944
Population
53.8
Area (sq mi)
166
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49544?
38.1
Median Age
53.0%
Male
47.0%
Female
7.7%
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?
$74,390
Median Household Income
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$40,151
Per Capita Income
10.3%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
19.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49544 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Grand Rapids, 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)
$74,390 Top 40% higher than 60% 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
4,048housing units
4,048
Total Housing Units
4,008
Occupied Units
40
Vacant Units
2.33
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$264,000
Median Home Value
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$1,204
Median Rent
1983
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
+1.7%
YoY Change (2024)
248
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+148%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49544 have increased 1.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +148% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.8% | 161 |
| 2021 | +13.9% | 183 |
| 2022 | +14.1% | 209 |
| 2023 | +16.8% | 244 |
| 2024 | +1.7% | 248 |
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 555 business establishments in ZIP 49544, employing approximately 18,531 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,195,335,000.
555
Businesses
18,531
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 65 | 11.7% |
| Manufacturing | 63 | 11.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 57 | 10.3% |
| Construction | 56 | 10.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 56 | 10.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 51 | 9.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 46 | 8.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32 | 5.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 31 | 5.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 30 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 28 | 5.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 2.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10 | 1.8% |
| Information | 6 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.1% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.7% |
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 49544 vs 49321 →
ZIP 49544 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
- 49503
Grand Rapids (49503)
35,940 residents
- 49505
Grand Rapids (49505)
31,216 residents
- 49519
Wyoming (49519)
27,424 residents
- 49509
Wyoming (49509)
26,720 residents
- 49534
Grand Rapids (49534)
21,570 residents
- 49321
Comstock Park (49321)
16,241 residents
- 49345 13,040
Sparta (49345)
13,040 residents
- 49544 8,944
Grand Rapids (49544)
8,944 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49544 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49544 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49435
Marne (49435)
$103,432 median income
- 49345
Sparta (49345)
$85,463 median income
- 49403
Conklin (49403)
$85,000 median income
- 49534
Grand Rapids (49534)
$81,657 median income
- 49321
Comstock Park (49321)
$77,870 median income
- 49505
Grand Rapids (49505)
$74,906 median income
- 49544
Grand Rapids (49544)
$74,390 median income
- 49519
Wyoming (49519)
$73,762 median income
- 49504
Grand Rapids (49504)
$70,119 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49544 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49321 | Comstock Park, MI | 16,241 | 3.6 mi |
| 49504 | Grand Rapids, MI | 39,994 | 4.8 mi |
| 49435 | Marne, MI | 3,549 | 5.2 mi |
| 49534 | Grand Rapids, MI | 21,570 | 5.7 mi |
| 49345 | Sparta, MI | 13,040 | 7.7 mi |
| 49505 | Grand Rapids, MI | 31,216 | 6.2 mi |
| 49503 | Grand Rapids, MI | 35,940 | 7.1 mi |
| 49519 | Wyoming, MI | 27,424 | 10.3 mi |
| 49509 | Wyoming, MI | 26,720 | 10.5 mi |
| 49403 | Conklin, MI | 2,473 | 8.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 49544, 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 (8,944 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 49544 in?
ZIP code 49544 (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 49544?
ZIP code 49544 in Grand Rapids, MI has a population of 8,944 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49544?
The median household income in ZIP 49544 is $74,390, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49544?
The median home value in ZIP 49544 is $264,000, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49544?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49544 is White at 79.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49544?
ZIP code 49544 has 555 business establishments employing approximately 18,531 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49544?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49544 are: Retail trade (65), Manufacturing (63), Health care and social assistance (57). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49544?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49544 increased by 1.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 148%. 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 49544?
In ZIP code 49544, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.6% 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 49544?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49544 is 19.4 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 49544?
In ZIP code 49544, approximately 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49544?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49544 is 10.3% 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 49544's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49544 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.