ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 48603

Part of Saginaw, MI

Pop. 27,757·Saginaw County·151st most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,132/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$800

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 48603 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 48603 · $1,132

More affordable than 94% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$850

1 BR

$940

2 BR

$1,230

3 BR

$1,590

4 BR+

$1,630

Research median

$1,230/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Michigan

Rent in ZIP 48603 changed +7.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($66,352) is $1,659 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,630).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 48603. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,584/yr

At $1,132/mo median

Location

CitySaginaw

StateMI

CountySaginaw County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.7% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 48603 (Saginaw, MI) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 37.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,757

Median income

$66,352

Median age

Renters

33.1%

Age distribution

20.4%

22.5%

22.2%

12.7%

22.2%

Under 1820.4%

18–3422.5%

35–5422.2%

55–6412.7%

65+22.2%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

76.3%

White76.3%

Black11.1%

Hispanic10.5%

Asian5.2%

Education (25+)

25.5%

31%

37.2%

No HS diploma6.2%

HS diploma25.5%

Some college31%

Bachelor's+37.2%

Housing tenure

66.9%

33.1%

Owner66.9%

Renter33.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 48603 in Saginaw, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$58,341 → $66,352

up 13.7%

Population

27,603 → 27,757

up 0.6%

Renter share

33.5% → 33.1%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

34.2% → 37.2%

+3.0 pts

Median age

43.5 → 41

-2.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 48603 in Saginaw, MI now reports about $66,352, up from $58,341 in 2021. College-educated residents now make up 37.2% of adults here, versus 34.2% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 48603

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 48603

About renting in ZIP 48603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 48603 covers Saginaw, MI. The median rent here is $1,132/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $940/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,230/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($66,352/yr), ZIP 48603 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 48603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $45,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,132/mo in ZIP 48603. The local median household income is $66,352/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 48603?

Rent in ZIP 48603 has risen 7.7% over the past year.

How does ZIP 48603 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?

ZIP 48603 is one of the more affordable among Michigan ZIP codes for rent, ranking #151 of 168 at $1,132/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 48603 changed +7.7%, against a typical +4.4% across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks.