Zip code 48659: Sterling, Michigan

Q: What city is zip code 48659?

48659 is assigned to Sterling, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 48659 in?

48659 is mostly in Arenac County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 48659?

About 2,563 people live in 48659, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 48659?

The median household income in 48659 is $58,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 48659?

The closest zip codes to 48659 are 48749, 48658, 48610, 48613, 48766.

Residential delivery areaArenac CountyEastern Time

Population

2,563

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$146K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$853/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

39.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

76 sq mi

34 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 48659

48659 is a rural zip code in Sterling, Michigan (Arenac County), covering 76 sq mi of land. About 2,563 people live here, or 34 per square mile. The median resident is 39.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $58,750 a year, 27% below the national median of $80,734. 17.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $146,200, or 2.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 89% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $853 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.9 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; construction and repair; and healthcare.

How 48659 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate88.9%
95th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MI 73.2%316th of 958 in MI
Housing vacancy22.4%
95th
U.S. 10.1% · MI 11.8%295th of 958 in MI
Self-employed workers13.6%
86th
U.S. 10% · MI 8.6%178th of 961 in MI
Healthcare workers11.6%
78th
U.S. 9.7% · MI 10.1%232nd of 961 in MI
Poverty rate17.2%
77th
U.S. 12.5% · MI 13.2%198th of 959 in MI
Uninsured rate8.9%
65th
U.S. 8.4% · MI 4.9%105th of 961 in MI
Average commute27.9 min
62nd
U.S. 26.4 min · MI 24.2 min304th of 941 in MI
Median age39.6
54th
U.S. 38.9 · MI 40.2692nd of 962 in MI
Veterans6.1%
54th
U.S. 6.2% · MI 5.8%572nd of 962 in MI
Residents 65 and older16.7%
51st
U.S. 17.2% · MI 18.6%718th of 962 in MI
Residents under 1821.7%
46th
U.S. 22% · MI 21.2%364th of 962 in MI
Government workers12%
36th
U.S. 14.5% · MI 11.6%426th of 961 in MI
Unemployment rate4%
34th
U.S. 5.2% · MI 5.7%563rd of 961 in MI
Income inequality (Gini)0.399
20th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MI 0.465620th of 958 in MI
Median household income$58,750
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MI $72,875706th of 952 in MI
Rent-burdened renters41.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · MI 50.4%570th of 931 in MI
Median earnings per worker$38,203
17th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MI $47,178747th of 960 in MI
Tech workers1.2%
17th
U.S. 3.8% · MI 3.1%592nd of 961 in MI
Per capita income$28,446
15th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MI $40,735821st of 962 in MI
Work from home6.5%
14th
U.S. 15.1% · MI 13.5%745th of 961 in MI
Median gross rent$853
10th
U.S. $1,413 · MI $1,129611th of 851 in MI
Median home value$146,200
9th
U.S. $332,700 · MI $231,600759th of 946 in MI
Bachelor's degree or higher13.6%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MI 32.4%808th of 961 in MI
Broadband access82.1%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MI 90.5%800th of 958 in MI
Population density34/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MI 178/sq mi770th of 962 in MI
Population2,563
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MI 10,077,761628th of 962 in MI
Diversity index10.6
4th
U.S. 61.4 · MI 45.3826th of 962 in MI
Foreign-born residents0.2%
2nd
U.S. 14.1% · MI 7.2%884th of 962 in MI

Measure	48659	Arenac	MI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MI
Homeownership rateStrength	88.9%	86.2%	73.2%	65.2%	95th	316th of 958
Housing vacancy	22.4%	31.4%	11.8%	10.1%	95th	295th of 958
Self-employed workers	13.6%	13.5%	8.6%	10%	86th	178th of 961
Healthcare workers	11.6%	10.3%	10.1%	9.7%	78th	232nd of 961
Poverty rate	17.2%	11.7%	13.2%	12.5%	77th	198th of 959
Uninsured rate	8.9%	6%	4.9%	8.4%	65th	105th of 961
Average commute	27.9 min	26.6 min	24.2 min	26.4 min	62nd	304th of 941
Median age	39.6	50.2	40.2	38.9	54th	692nd of 962
Veterans	6.1%	8.3%	5.8%	6.2%	54th	572nd of 962
Residents 65 and older	16.7%	27.2%	18.6%	17.2%	51st	718th of 962
Residents under 18	21.7%	18.5%	21.2%	22%	46th	364th of 962
Government workers	12%	11.2%	11.6%	14.5%	36th	426th of 961
Unemployment rate	4%	6%	5.7%	5.2%	34th	563rd of 961
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.399	0.404	0.465	0.483	20th	620th of 958
Median household incomeWeakness	$58,750	$58,811	$72,875	$80,734	19th	706th of 952
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.1%	41.5%	50.4%	51.1%	18th	570th of 931
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$38,203	$39,338	$47,178	$49,666	17th	747th of 960
Tech workers	1.2%	1.1%	3.1%	3.8%	17th	592nd of 961
Per capita incomeWeakness	$28,446	$32,082	$40,735	$44,673	15th	821st of 962
Work from home	6.5%	8.1%	13.5%	15.1%	14th	745th of 961
Median gross rent	$853	$761	$1,129	$1,413	10th	611th of 851
Median home value	$146,200	$150,600	$231,600	$332,700	9th	759th of 946
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	13.6%	16%	32.4%	35.7%	7th	808th of 961
Broadband accessWeakness	82.1%	87%	90.5%	91%	7th	800th of 958
Population density	34/sq mi	42/sq mi	178/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	770th of 962
Population	2,563	15,077	10,077,761	334,922,499	4th	628th of 962
Diversity index	10.6	13.4	45.3	61.4	4th	826th of 962
Foreign-born residents	0.2%	0.8%	7.2%	14.1%	2nd	884th of 962

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

12%

35–44

10%

45–54

18%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

39.6

Under 18

21.7%

65 and over

16.7%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black0.4%
Hispanic0.6%
Asian0%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

10.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

89.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 993
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 69.7%
Married couples: 55%
Living alone: 23.9%
Veterans (of adults): 6.1%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

28%

$75–100k

16%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

48659

$58,750

Arenac Co.

$58,811

Michigan

$72,875

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$28,446

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

17.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

5.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.399

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

48659

$146,200

Arenac Co.

$150,600

Michigan

$231,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

48659

$853

Arenac Co.

$761

Michigan

$1,129

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

82%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

16%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,279
Owner-occupied: 88.9%
Vacant: 22.4%
Median year built: 1978
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 10.5%
Home value to income: 2.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

Transit

0.2%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

22%

20–29

18%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

11%

Average commute

27.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

14%

Construction and repair

13%

Healthcare

12%

Office and admin

10%

Transportation and moving

10%

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Management

Education

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.7%

Industries

Manufacturing

22%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Construction

10%

Education

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Retail

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Wholesale

Other services

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Information

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$38,203

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	48659	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,160	$74,888
Service	$19,911	$26,804
Sales and office	$35,089	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,313	$49,199
Production and transportation	$50,625	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

36%

Some college

26%

Associate's

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Households with broadband: 82.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 45.1%
No internet access: 14.9%
Without health insurance: 8.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Sterling
State: Michigan
County: Arenac County
Center point: 44.0656° N, 84.0508° W
Land area: 76 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

48659 spans 2 counties

Arenac County98% of land
Bay County2% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Sterling1% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 48659

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
48749	Omer, MI	7.5 mi	1,271	$51,544	$129,600
48658	Standish, MI	8.4 mi	4,694	$53,750	$122,000
48610	Alger, MI	8.8 mi	3,300	$59,091	$150,200
48613	Bentley, MI	9.7 mi	1,081	$58,846	$160,900
48766	Twining, MI	10 mi	1,328	$56,583	$112,200
48756	Prescott, MI	12 mi	4,060	$46,008	$81,500
48650	Pinconning, MI	15 mi	6,510	$61,911	$151,800
48652	Rhodes, MI	17 mi	1,832	$69,766	$171,800
48770	Whittemore, MI	17 mi	1,843	$49,957	$105,500
48765	Turner, MI	18 mi	535	$45,000	$153,800
48703	Au Gres, MI	19 mi	3,105	$64,792	$172,100
48661	West Branch, MI	20 mi	10,618	$61,377	$177,000

Zip codes like 48659 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 48659

What city is zip code 48659?

48659 is assigned to Sterling, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 48659 in?

48659 is mostly in Arenac County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 48659?

About 2,563 people live in 48659, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 48659 in?

48659 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 48659?

The median household income in 48659 is $58,750.

What zip codes are near 48659?

The closest zip codes to 48659 are 48749, 48658, 48610, 48613, 48766.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 48659, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.