PlainZIP

Bear Lake, MI · standard

ZIP Code 49614

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

2,790
13/sq mi
$72,250
Median income
$223,100
Median home value
29.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 50%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 50%
home value, US ZIPs
13
people per sq mi
96%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49614 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 49614 covers 218.0 square miles in Bear Lake, Manistee County, Michigan (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,790 residents on file, a density of 13 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 49614 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $72,250 (2% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $40,092. Local economic indicators show a 6.4% poverty rate alongside 3.6% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $223,100 (2% above the state average) with median rent at $979 per month, and 96.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 55, and the average commute is 25 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 5 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 49614, plus 6 more within Manistee County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 49614

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bear Lake, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49614.

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 49614, Bear Lake, 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

2,790

Population

218.0

Area (sq mi)

13

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 49614?

55.0

Median Age

49.4%

Male

50.6%

Female

0.5%

Foreign-Born

White 90.8%
African American 0.7%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.3%
Hispanic or Latino 0.6%

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?

$72,250

Median Household Income

-2% vs state

$40,092

Per Capita Income

6.4%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

24.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49614 ranks nationally

Bear Lake, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$72,250 Top 50% higher than 50% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 65.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.6%

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

What does housing look like?

1,986

Total Housing Units

1,167

Occupied Units

819

Vacant Units

2.26

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 96.1%
Renter 3.9%

$223,100

Median Home Value

+2% vs state

$979

Median Rent

1977

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

+3.1%

YoY Change (2024)

260

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+160%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 49614 have increased 3.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +160% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -4.6% 156
2021 +14.6% 178
2022 +19.9% 214
2023 +18.1% 252
2024 +3.1% 260

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 68 business establishments in ZIP 49614, employing approximately 452 people with a combined annual payroll of $28,079,000.

68

Businesses

452

Employees

$28.1M

Annual Payroll

9

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 19 27.9%
Retail trade 11 16.2%
Other services (except public administration) 7 10.3%
Accommodation and food services 5 7.3%
Wholesale trade 4 5.9%
Health care and social assistance 4 5.9%
Manufacturing 3 4.4%
Finance and insurance 3 4.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 4.4%

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 49614 vs 49613 →

ZIP 49614 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 49614 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 49614 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 49614 ranks #2 of 6 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
49613 Arcadia, MI 680 6.2 mi
49645 Kaleva, MI 1,632 6.5 mi
49675 Onekama, MI 1,030 6.6 mi
49616 Benzonia, MI 1,974 9.5 mi
49619 Brethren, MI 1,110 11.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Manistee County

49660 standard
Manistee, MI
Pop: 14,066
49645 standard
Kaleva, MI
Pop: 1,632
49689 standard
Wellston, MI
Pop: 1,560
49625 standard
Copemish, MI
Pop: 1,379
49619 standard
Brethren, MI
Pop: 1,110
49675 standard
Onekama, MI
Pop: 1,030

Related Areas

Manistee County Bear Lake, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 49614 in? ▼
ZIP code 49614 (Bear Lake) is located in Manistee County, Michigan. Manistee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/manistee-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49614? ▼
ZIP code 49614 in Bear Lake, MI has a population of 2,790 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49614? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 49614 is $72,250, which is 5% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49614? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 49614 is $223,100, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49614? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 49614 is White at 90.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49614? ▼
ZIP code 49614 has 68 business establishments employing approximately 452 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49614? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49614 are: Construction (19), Retail trade (11), Other services (except public administration) (7). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49614? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49614 increased by 3.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 160%. 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 49614? ▼
In ZIP code 49614, 65.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.6% 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 49614? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49614 is 24.9 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 49614? ▼
In ZIP code 49614, approximately 96.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 3.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49614? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49614 is 6.4% 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.