ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 49002

Part of Portage, MI

Pop. 19,737·Kalamazoo County·21st most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,949/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.7%

vs US Median

+$17

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 49002 · $1,949

More expensive than 58% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$750

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,070

3 BR

$1,410

4 BR+

$1,510

Research median

$1,070/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

Past year vs. the rest of Michigan

Rent in ZIP 49002 changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,647) is $1,841 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,510).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 49024, 3 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,542/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 49002. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$23,388/yr

At $1,949/mo median

Location

CityPortage

StateMI

CountyKalamazoo County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, -1.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 49002 (Portage, MI) is majority owner-occupied, 41.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,737

Median income

$73,647

Median age

39.6

Renters

29.3%

Age distribution

20.9%

23.4%

23.8%

12.7%

19.2%

Under 1820.9%

18–3423.4%

35–5423.8%

55–6412.7%

65+19.2%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

84.1%

White84.1%

Black4.9%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian1%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

23.9%

30.6%

41.5%

No HS diploma4%

HS diploma23.9%

Some college30.6%

Bachelor's+41.5%

Housing tenure

70.7%

29.3%

Owner70.7%

Renter29.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 49002 in Portage, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$63,080 → $73,647

up 16.8%

Population

20,139 → 19,737

down 2.0%

Renter share

30.2% → 29.3%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

42.2% → 41.5%

-0.7 pts

Median age

37.2 → 39.6

+2.4 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $63,080 to $73,647 across the same window, up 16.8% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 20,139 to 19,737 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.0% change.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 49002

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 49002

About renting in ZIP 49002

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 49002 covers Portage, MI. The median rent here is $1,949/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,070/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($73,647/yr), ZIP 49002 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 49002?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $78,000/year (about $38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,949/mo in ZIP 49002. The local median household income is $73,647/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 49002?

Rent in ZIP 49002 has risen 1.8% over the past year.

How does ZIP 49002 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?

ZIP 49002 is one of the pricier among Michigan ZIP codes for rent, ranking #21 of 168 at $1,949/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 49002 changed +1.8%, against a typical +4.4% across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks.