Zip code 49098: Watervliet, Michigan

Q: What city is zip code 49098?

49098 is assigned to Watervliet, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 49098 in?

49098 is mostly in Berrien County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 49098?

About 6,215 people live in 49098, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 49098?

The median household income in 49098 is $59,047.

Q: What zip codes are near 49098?

The closest zip codes to 49098 are 49057, 49038, 49084, 49022, 49039.

Residential delivery areaBerrien CountyEastern Time

Population

6,215

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$164K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$917/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

38.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

33 sq mi

191 people/sq mi

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

About 49098

49098 is a small-town zip code in Watervliet, Michigan (Berrien County), covering 33 sq mi of land. About 6,215 people live here, or 191 per square mile. The median resident is 38.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,047 a year, 27% below the national median of $80,734. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $164,200, or 2.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $917 a month.

19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.9 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; construction and repair; and production and manufacturing.

How 49098 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy23%
95th
U.S. 10.1% · MI 11.8%286th of 958 in MI
Poverty rate17.9%
79th
U.S. 12.5% · MI 13.2%182nd of 959 in MI
Residents 65 and older20.4%
76th
U.S. 17.2% · MI 18.6%475th of 962 in MI
Income inequality (Gini)0.459
69th
U.S. 0.483 · MI 0.465187th of 958 in MI
Veterans6.9%
65th
U.S. 6.2% · MI 5.8%455th of 962 in MI
Rent-burdened renters54.6%
65th
U.S. 51.1% · MI 50.4%256th of 931 in MI
Homeownership rate73.3%
62nd
U.S. 65.2% · MI 73.2%763rd of 958 in MI
Residents under 1823%
58th
U.S. 22% · MI 21.2%276th of 962 in MI
Uninsured rate7.7%
57th
U.S. 8.4% · MI 4.9%165th of 961 in MI
Tech workers3.1%
54th
U.S. 3.8% · MI 3.1%232nd of 961 in MI
Self-employed workers9.6%
54th
U.S. 10% · MI 8.6%434th of 961 in MI
Government workers13.9%
52nd
U.S. 14.5% · MI 11.6%294th of 961 in MI
Median age38.5
46th
U.S. 38.9 · MI 40.2748th of 962 in MI
Broadband access91%
41st
U.S. 91% · MI 90.5%343rd of 958 in MI
Work from home9.3%
30th
U.S. 15.1% · MI 13.5%514th of 961 in MI
Average commute22.9 min
29th
U.S. 26.4 min · MI 24.2 min659th of 941 in MI
Diversity index27.8
21st
U.S. 61.4 · MI 45.3296th of 962 in MI
Population density191/sq mi
20th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MI 178/sq mi383rd of 962 in MI
Per capita income$30,476
20th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MI $40,735748th of 962 in MI
Median household income$59,047
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MI $72,875700th of 952 in MI
Foreign-born residents3.1%
19th
U.S. 14.1% · MI 7.2%305th of 962 in MI
Bachelor's degree or higher19.1%
18th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MI 32.4%594th of 961 in MI
Median gross rent$917
15th
U.S. $1,413 · MI $1,129515th of 851 in MI
Median home value$164,200
13th
U.S. $332,700 · MI $231,600630th of 946 in MI
Population6,215
10th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MI 10,077,761428th of 962 in MI
Unemployment rate2.3%
8th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MI 5.7%802nd of 961 in MI
Median earnings per worker$32,759
5th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MI $47,178882nd of 960 in MI
Healthcare workers4.2%
2nd
U.S. 9.7% · MI 10.1%890th of 961 in MI

Measure	49098	Berrien	MI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MI
Housing vacancy	23%	17.2%	11.8%	10.1%	95th	286th of 958
Poverty rate	17.9%	15.1%	13.2%	12.5%	79th	182nd of 959
Residents 65 and older	20.4%	21.3%	18.6%	17.2%	76th	475th of 962
Income inequality (Gini)	0.459	0.475	0.465	0.483	69th	187th of 958
Veterans	6.9%	6.1%	5.8%	6.2%	65th	455th of 962
Rent-burdened renters	54.6%	49.9%	50.4%	51.1%	65th	256th of 931
Homeownership rate	73.3%	72.8%	73.2%	65.2%	62nd	763rd of 958
Residents under 18	23%	21.3%	21.2%	22%	58th	276th of 962
Uninsured rate	7.7%	6.4%	4.9%	8.4%	57th	165th of 961
Tech workers	3.1%	2.9%	3.1%	3.8%	54th	232nd of 961
Self-employed workers	9.6%	9.5%	8.6%	10%	54th	434th of 961
Government workers	13.9%	10.2%	11.6%	14.5%	52nd	294th of 961
Median age	38.5	42.7	40.2	38.9	46th	748th of 962
Broadband access	91%	89.3%	90.5%	91%	41st	343rd of 958
Work from home	9.3%	11.2%	13.5%	15.1%	30th	514th of 961
Average commute	22.9 min	21.2 min	24.2 min	26.4 min	29th	659th of 941
Diversity index	27.8	44.7	45.3	61.4	21st	296th of 962
Population density	191/sq mi	270/sq mi	178/sq mi	95/sq mi	20th	383rd of 962
Per capita incomeWeakness	$30,476	$38,351	$40,735	$44,673	20th	748th of 962
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,047	$65,425	$72,875	$80,734	19th	700th of 952
Foreign-born residents	3.1%	5.5%	7.2%	14.1%	19th	305th of 962
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	19.1%	30.9%	32.4%	35.7%	18th	594th of 961
Median gross rent	$917	$942	$1,129	$1,413	15th	515th of 851
Median home value	$164,200	$224,300	$231,600	$332,700	13th	630th of 946
Population	6,215	153,288	10,077,761	334,922,499	10th	428th of 962
Unemployment rateStrength	2.3%	6.2%	5.7%	5.2%	8th	802nd of 961
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$32,759	$42,744	$47,178	$49,666	5th	882nd of 960
Healthcare workers	4.2%	9.9%	10.1%	9.7%	2nd	890th of 961

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

16%

5–17

10%

18–24

12%

25–34

13%

35–44

45–54

13%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

38.5

Under 18

23%

65 and over

20.4%

Race and ethnicity

White84%
Black0.6%
Hispanic10%
Asian1%
Native American0.6%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

27.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.9%

Asian / Pacific

0.1%

Other

Households

Households: 2,417
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 64.1%
Married couples: 47.4%
Living alone: 27.4%
Veterans (of adults): 6.9%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

49098

$59,047

Berrien Co.

$65,425

Michigan

$72,875

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$30,476

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

17.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.459

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

49098

$164,200

Berrien Co.

$224,300

Michigan

$231,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

49098

$917

Berrien Co.

$942

Michigan

$1,129

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.6%

20+ units

Mobile home

11%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 3,137
Owner-occupied: 73.3%
Vacant: 23%
Median year built: 1968
Median rooms: 6.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 54.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 32.7%
Home value to income: 2.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

71%

Carpooled

14%

Transit

0.7%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.6%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

27%

10–19

28%

20–29

25%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

12%

Construction and repair

10%

Production

10%

Transportation and moving

Sales

Office and admin

Food service

Education

Management

Business and finance

Healthcare

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

22%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Retail

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Admin, support and management

Construction

Arts and recreation

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

0.8%

Information

Median earnings per worker

$32,759

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	49098	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$40,321	$74,888
Service	$20,865	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,061	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$61,042	$49,199
Production and transportation	$31,250	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

16%

High school

28%

Some college

26%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 83.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.7%
Households with broadband: 91%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.7%
No internet access: 6.2%
Without health insurance: 7.7%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Watervliet
State: Michigan
County: Berrien County
Center point: 42.1639° N, 86.2400° W
Land area: 33 sq mi
Water area: 1.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

49098 spans 2 counties

Berrien County76% of land
Van Buren County24% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Paw Paw Lake (unincorporated)6% of zip
Watervliet4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 49098

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
49057	Hartford, MI	3.2 mi	6,434	$51,345	$118,400
49038	Coloma, MI	4.9 mi	8,616	$62,636	$206,800
49084	Riverside, MI	7.5 mi	38	$54,375	$165,000
49022	Benton Harbor, MI	7.7 mi	29,460	$39,499	$159,600
49039	Hagar Shores, MI · PO box	8 mi	—	—	—
49043	Covert, MI	8.6 mi	2,102	$36,280	$153,300
49111	Eau Claire, MI	10 mi	3,159	$70,915	$176,300
49064	Lawrence, MI	11 mi	3,635	$68,607	$171,500
49126	Sodus, MI	11 mi	1,623	$76,875	$151,600
49023	Benton Harbor, MI · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
49013	Bangor, MI	12 mi	5,346	$55,349	$154,400
49047	Dowagiac, MI	13 mi	14,858	$62,963	$181,700

Zip codes like 49098 elsewhere

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

Questions about 49098

What city is zip code 49098?

49098 is assigned to Watervliet, Michigan. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 49098 in?

49098 is mostly in Berrien County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 49098?

About 6,215 people live in 49098, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 49098 in?

49098 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 49098?

The median household income in 49098 is $59,047.

What zip codes are near 49098?

The closest zip codes to 49098 are 49057, 49038, 49084, 49022, 49039.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 49098, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.