ZIP Code 49504 — Grand Rapids city, MI Demographics & Data

ZIP code 49504 covers Grand Rapids, MI in Kent County with a population of about 40,402.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 32.9 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.

Grand Rapids, MI sits in a university / college context (near grand rapids community college (2.5 mi)). Expect stronger interest in student housing, rentals, walkability, transit, and a younger adult age mix versus typical suburban ZIPs.

Median household income in ZIP 49504 is about $68,326 — about 9% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 15.6%; unemployment rate near 5.2%; 38.5% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 4.8 points above the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Retail trade; about 14.5% of workers reporting work-from-home (roughly in line with 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 $222,600 — about 36% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $988 (about 15% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 58.0% (about 7.4 points below the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 49504 in Grand Rapids, MI, a household would need roughly $61,000 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 $1,430. That sits below the local median household income ($68,326), 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 Grand Rapids city, 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 Grand Rapids city, MI show little to no average snow and around 39.6 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 1,581 for ZIP 49504 (Grand Rapids city, 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.