PlainZIP

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
$106,375
Median income
$497,600
Median home value
58.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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 Michigan average), while per-capita income is $71,775. Poverty here runs at 8.3%, with unemployment measured at 2.2%. The typical home here is valued at $497,600 (127% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,083 monthly, and 86.3% of units are owner-occupied.

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. Beyond these figures, 4 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Leelanau County, letting you compare 49630 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 49630

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Empire, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49630.

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 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

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 49630?

64.0

Median Age

51.1%

Male

48.9%

Female

0.6%

Foreign-Born

White 94.7%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%

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

$71,775

Per Capita Income

8.3%

Poverty Rate

2.2%

Unemployment Rate

27.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49630 ranks nationally

Empire, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$106,375 Top 15% higher than 85% 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%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $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 73.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 58.8%

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

What does housing look like?

1,376

Total Housing Units

685

Occupied Units

691

Vacant Units

2.03

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.3%
Renter 13.7%

$497,600

Median Home Value

+127% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49630 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 49630 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 49630 ranks #2 of 5 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
49636 Glen Arbor, MI 560 4.4 mi
49640 Honor, MI 1,618 7.1 mi
49664 Maple City, MI 2,067 6.4 mi
49650 Lake Ann, MI 3,144 7.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Leelanau County

49682 standard
Suttons Bay, MI
Pop: 4,253
49621 standard
Cedar, MI
Pop: 3,096
49664 standard
Maple City, MI
Pop: 2,067
49653 standard
Lake Leelanau, MI
Pop: 1,922
49670 standard
Northport, MI
Pop: 1,891
49654 standard
Leland, MI
Pop: 690

Related Areas

Leelanau County Empire, MI Michigan

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.