Empire, MI · standard
ZIP Code 49630
Leelanau County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 1,429
- 12/sq mi Low-density area
- $106,375
- Median income Above-median income area
- $497,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Empire pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 15%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 13%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 12
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49630 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 49630 is a sparsely populated ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Empire, Leelanau County, Michigan, home to just 1,429 residents across 117.1 square miles, a density of 12 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 49630 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $106,375 (45% above the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $71,775. The poverty rate is 8.3%, with unemployment at 2.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $497,600 (127% above the average Michigan ZIP), while 86.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,083.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 64, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Leelanau County, so 49630 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 49630
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Empire, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49630.
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
7 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
7 establishments
- Construction
Construction
6 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
6 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
6 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 49630, Empire, 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
1,429
Population
117.1
Area (sq mi)
12
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 49630?
64.0
Median Age
51.1%
Male
48.9%
Female
0.6%
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?
$106,375
Median Household Income
+45% vs state ZIP avg
$71,775
Per Capita Income
8.3%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment Rate
27.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 49630 ranks among Michigan ZIPs
Empire, 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)
$106,375 Top 9% higher than 91% 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
1,376housing units
1,376
Total Housing Units
685
Occupied Units
691
Vacant Units
2.03
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$497,600
Median Home Value
+127% vs state ZIP avg
$1,083
Median Rent
1995
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
+44.1%
YoY Change (2024)
262
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+162%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 49630 have increased 44.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +162% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -1.5% | 142 |
| 2020 | +5.1% | 150 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 163 |
| 2022 | +44.1% | 235 |
| 2024 | – | 262 |
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 50 business establishments in ZIP 49630, employing approximately 214 people with a combined annual payroll of $8,051,000.
50
Businesses
214
Employees
$8.1M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 14.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 7 | 14.0% |
| Construction | 6 | 12.0% |
| Retail trade | 6 | 12.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 6 | 12.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 | 10.0% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 6.0% |
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 49630 vs 49636 →
ZIP 49630 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49650
Lake Ann (49650)
3,144 residents
- 49664
Maple City (49664)
2,067 residents
- 49640
Honor (49640)
1,618 residents
- 49630
Empire (49630)
1,429 residents
- 49636 560
Glen Arbor (49636)
560 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49630 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 49630 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 49636
Glen Arbor (49636)
$119,688 median income
- 49630
Empire (49630)
$106,375 median income
- 49650
Lake Ann (49650)
$87,500 median income
- 49640
Honor (49640)
$83,214 median income
- 49664
Maple City (49664)
$77,500 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 49630 ranks #2 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 49630, 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 (1,429 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Leelanau County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 49630 in?
ZIP code 49630 (Empire) is located in Leelanau County, Michigan. Leelanau County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/leelanau-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49630?
ZIP code 49630 in Empire, MI has a population of 1,429 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49630?
The median household income in ZIP 49630 is $106,375, which is 39% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49630?
The median home value in ZIP 49630 is $497,600, which is 79% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49630?
The largest racial group in ZIP 49630 is White at 94.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49630?
ZIP code 49630 has 50 business establishments employing approximately 214 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49630?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49630 are: Real estate and rental and leasing (7), Accommodation and food services (7), Construction (6). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49630?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49630 increased by 44.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 162%. 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 49630?
In ZIP code 49630, 73.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.8% 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 49630?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49630 is 27.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 49630?
In ZIP code 49630, approximately 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49630?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49630 is 8.3% 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 49630's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 49630 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Empire, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.