ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 48838

Part of Greenville, MI

Pop. 18,212·Montcalm County·58th most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,638/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-18.1%

vs US Median

-$294

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 48838 · $1,638

More affordable than 63% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,050

1 BR

$1,090

2 BR

$1,300

3 BR

$1,700

4 BR+

$1,860

Research median

$1,300/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($70,176) is $1,754 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,700); a 4-bedroom is $1,860.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 48838. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,656/yr

At $1,638/mo median

Location

CityGreenville

StateMI

CountyMontcalm County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -18.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 48838 (Greenville, MI) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 20.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,212

Median income

$70,176

Median age

39.1

Renters

26.4%

Age distribution

20.6%

23%

23.9%

20.7%

Under 1820.6%

18–3423%

35–5423.9%

55–6411.8%

65+20.7%

Gender

49.8%

50.2%

Male49.8%

Female50.2%

Race & ethnicity

88%

White88%

Hispanic6.3%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

31.5%

38.4%

20.7%

No HS diploma9.5%

HS diploma31.5%

Some college38.4%

Bachelor's+20.7%

Housing tenure

73.6%

26.4%

Owner73.6%

Renter26.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 48838 in Greenville, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$54,391 → $70,176

up 29.0%

Population

18,674 → 18,212

down 2.5%

Renter share

24.8% → 26.4%

+1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

18.7% → 20.7%

+2.0 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $54,391 in 2021 to $70,176 more recently. The population has contracted by 2.5% since 2021, moving from about 18,674 residents to roughly 18,212. Renters now make up 26.4% of households, compared with 24.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 20.7% of adults here, versus 18.7% in 2021.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 48838

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 48838 covers Greenville, MI. The median rent here is $1,638/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,090/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,300/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($70,176/yr), ZIP 48838 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 48838?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,638/mo in ZIP 48838. The local median household income is $70,176/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.