ZIP 49506
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 49506 usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.5% above it in July, about $50 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 49506 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2015.
Rent in ZIP 49506 changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 49506 rose 41% while median household income rose 42.4% ($82,982 to $118,131). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 49506 is 49.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($118,131) is $2,953 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,430).
ZIP 49503, 3 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,506/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 49506. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 49506 (East Grand Rapids, MI) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 67.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 49506 in East Grand Rapids, MI has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 49506 in East Grand Rapids, MI has climbed from $1,330 to $1,846, a 38.8% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $96,348 in 2021 to $118,131 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 33,651 residents to roughly 34,673. College-educated residents now make up 67.6% of adults here, versus 64.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 49506 in East Grand Rapids, MI market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 49506
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 49506 covers East Grand Rapids, MI. The median rent here is $1,846/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,420/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,700/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($118,131/yr), ZIP 49506 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 49506 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?
At $1,846/mo, rent takes ~19% of ZIP 49506's median household income ($118,131/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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