ZIP Code 49301 — Forest Hills CDP, MI Demographics & Data

ZIP code 49301 covers Forest Hills, MI in Kent County with a population of about 20,492.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 43.4 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area code 616; U.S. House district MI-3; the GRAND RAPIDS - KALMZOO - B. CRK media market.

Forest Hills, MI ranks among higher-income / higher-home-value communities on US5 (very high median household income (~$173,008)). Searchers often dig into housing affordability stretch, private schools, and neighborhood comparisons rather than entry-level rentals.

Median household income in ZIP 49301 is about $173,008 — about 130% above the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 1.6%; unemployment rate near 1.6%; 70.1% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 36.4 points above the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Professional services; about 18.3% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 3.1 points above the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Median home value is about $510,000 — about 47% above the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $1,894 (about 63% above the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 94.8% (about 29.4 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 49301 in Forest Hills, MI, a household would need roughly $140,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $3,276. That sits below the local median household income ($173,008), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Forest Hills CDP, MI as Relatively Moderate (composite score 92.2), which is among the highest nationally. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (94.8) and wildfire (42.6). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Forest Hills CDP, MI show little to no average snow and around 39.4 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 802 for ZIP 49301 (Forest Hills CDP, MI) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.