PlainZIP

Rapid River, MI · standard

ZIP Code 49878

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

3,583
3/sq mi
$71,136
Median income
$176,600
Median home value
22.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Rapid River pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

48th pct
household income, US ZIPs
37th pct
home value, US ZIPs
3
people per sq mi
97%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49878 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 49878 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1194.3 square miles in Rapid River, Delta County, Michigan. The area is home to 3,583 residents, producing a population density of 3 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 49878 against Michigan and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 49878 sits at $71,136 (3% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $35,616. The poverty rate stands at 11.5% and the unemployment rate at 4.7%. On housing, the median home value is $176,600 (20% below the state average) with median rent at $813 per month, and 96.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 49878 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.1, and the average commute is 26 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 49878 sits relative to Michigan and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 49878

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49878.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 49878, Rapid River, 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

3,583

Population

1194.3

Area (sq mi)

3

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 49878?

54.1

Median Age

50.3%

Male

49.7%

Female

1.2%

Foreign-Born

White 88.7%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.7%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%

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?

$71,136

Median Household Income

-3% vs state

$35,616

Per Capita Income

11.5%

Poverty Rate

4.7%

Unemployment Rate

26.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49878 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$71,136 48th percentile higher than 48% 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 58.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.2%

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

What does housing look like?

2,484

Total Housing Units

1,456

Occupied Units

1,028

Vacant Units

2.29

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 96.6%
Renter 3.4%

$176,600

Median Home Value

-20% vs state

$813

Median Rent

1976

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

-3.7%

YoY Change (2024)

182

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+82%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 49878 have decreased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +82% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.7% 127
2021 +16.6% 148
2022 +9.1% 162
2023 +16.6% 189
2024 -3.7% 182

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 60 business establishments in ZIP 49878, employing approximately 323 people with a combined annual payroll of $13,142,000.

60

Businesses

323

Employees

$13.1M

Annual Payroll

8

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 13 21.7%
Retail trade 10 16.7%
Other services (except public administration) 8 13.3%
Transportation and warehousing 6 10.0%
Accommodation and food services 6 10.0%
Manufacturing 3 5.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 5.0%
Health care and social assistance 3 5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

More ZIP Codes in Delta County

49829 standard
Escanaba, MI
Pop: 17,347
49837 standard
Gladstone, MI
Pop: 9,795
49807 standard
Bark River, MI
Pop: 3,390
49880 standard
Rock, MI
Pop: 1,142
49818 standard
Cornell, MI
Pop: 988
49835 standard
Garden, MI
Pop: 802

Related Areas

Delta County Rapid River, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 49878 in? ▼
ZIP code 49878 (Rapid River) is located in Delta County, Michigan. Delta County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/delta-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49878? ▼
ZIP code 49878 in Rapid River, MI has a population of 3,583 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49878? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 49878 is $71,136, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49878? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 49878 is $176,600, which is 37% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49878? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 49878 is White at 88.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49878? ▼
ZIP code 49878 has 60 business establishments employing approximately 323 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49878? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49878 are: Construction (13), Retail trade (10), Other services (except public administration) (8). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49878? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49878 decreased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 82%. 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 49878? ▼
In ZIP code 49878, 58.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.2% 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 49878? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49878 is 26.4 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 49878? ▼
In ZIP code 49878, approximately 96.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 3.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49878? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49878 is 11.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Rapid River, MI

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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