ZIP Code 49503: Population, Income, Housing

State: MI

Total population: 39,489 Household income: $64,661 Rent: $1,301

Overview

Total population

39,489

Rent

$1,301

Year built

1938

Household income

$64,661

Per capita income

$37,781

Poverty rate

20.7%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

37.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Michigan

County

Kent County

City

Grand Rapids

Total population

39,489

Adults over 25

26,679

Total households

17,960

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$64,661

Per capita income

$37,781

Poverty rate

20.7%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

37.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,301

Year built

1938

Households that rent

63.8%

Households that own

36.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

61%

Black

13.4%

Asian

2.8%

Two or more races

16%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

19.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

80.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

19,297 (86.2%)

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

3,102 (13.8%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

25.2%

High school graduate or GED

20.1%

Some college or associate degree

9.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

44.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 49503 with: Kent County, MI Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids metro area, MI Michigan United States

ZIP 49503

Total population39,489

Rent$1,301

Year built1938

Household income$64,661

Per capita income$37,781

Poverty rate20.7%

Unemployment rateN/A

Kent County, MI

Total population663,150

Rent$1,243

Year built1977

Household income$82,631

Per capita income$42,992

Poverty rate10.1%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Grand Rapids, MI

Total population198,535

Rent$1,266

Year built1953

Household income$69,108

Per capita income$35,921

Poverty rate16.9%

Unemployment rate5.1%

Grand Rapids Metro Area, MI

Total population1,162,152

Rent$1,202

Year built1979

Household income$82,874

Per capita income$41,561

Poverty rate9.7%

Unemployment rate4%

Michigan State

Total population10,077,761

Rent$1,129

Year built1972

Household income$72,875

Per capita income$40,735

Poverty rate13.2%

Unemployment rate4.7%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP49503	CountyKent, MI	CityGrand Rapids, MI	Metro AreaGrand Rapids metro area, MI	StateMichigan	CountryUnited States
Total population	39,489	663,150	198,535	1,162,152	10,077,761	334,922,499
Rent	$1,301	$1,243	$1,266	$1,202	$1,129	$1,413
Year built	1938	1977	1953	1979	1972	1980
Household income	$64,661	$82,631	$69,108	$82,874	$72,875	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,781	$42,992	$35,921	$41,561	$40,735	$44,673
Poverty rate	20.7%	10.1%	16.9%	9.7%	13.2%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.3%	5.1%	4%	4.7%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 49503

Rent & Income

In 49503, the typical monthly rent is $1,301 and the typical household income is $64,661. Rent here is similar to Grand Rapids and higher than Michigan, and household income is lower than both Grand Rapids and Michigan. The estimated poverty rate is 20.7%, which is higher than in both Grand Rapids and Michigan.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 63.8% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. Around 37.4% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 44.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 49503 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 49503 — Poverty

How ZIP 49503 compares in Michigan (88 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,301	60 / 88	from lower rent	$856 – $2,049
Household income	$64,661	55 / 88	from higher income	$30,680 – $131,558
Poverty rate	20.7%	68 / 88	from lower poverty	3.2% – 41.8%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Michigan with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 49503

Rent

Rent-wise, this area comes 60th out of 88 ZIP Codes in Michigan. At the state level, values extend from $856 in ZIP 48601 up to $2,049 in ZIP 48322.

Household income

Looking at income levels, ZIP Code 49503 holds the 55th out of 88 ZIP Codes. In Michigan as a whole, the range goes from $30,680 in ZIP 48228 up to $131,558 in ZIP 48178.

Poverty rate

Regarding poverty rate, ZIP Code 49503 ranks 68th out of 88 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from 3.2% in ZIP 48042 up to 41.8% in ZIP 48228.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 49503 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,301 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 49503

Annual Household Income: $64,661

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 49503

Estimated Rate: 20.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 49503

In ZIP Code 49503, households that rent: 11,462 (63.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,462	63.8%
Owner-Occupied	6,498	36.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 49503

In ZIP Code 49503, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,291 (37.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,291	37.4%
Other renter households	7,171	62.6%
Total renter households	11,462	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 49503

Less than High School: 6,729 people (25.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,360 people (20.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,634 people (9.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 11,956 people (44.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 26,679

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.