ZIP Code · MI

ZIP 49512

Part of Kentwood, MI

Pop. 18,373·Kent County·60th most expensive ZIP in Michigan

Median rent (all units)

$1,603/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

-$329

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 49512 · $1,603

More affordable than 65% 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

$1,230

1 BR

$1,280

2 BR

$1,530

3 BR

$1,980

4 BR+

$2,190

Research median

$1,530/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 49512 changed +7.2% 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 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($71,329) is $1,783 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,530); a 3-bedroom is $1,980.

Rank in Kentwood

2nd cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Kentwood.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 49548, 7 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,424/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 49512. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,236/yr

At $1,603/mo median

Location

CityKentwood

StateMI

CountyKent County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.2% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 49512 (Kentwood, MI) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 39.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,373

Median income

$71,329

Median age

35.1

Renters

57%

Age distribution

17.4%

32.4%

24.8%

15.3%

Under 1817.4%

18–3432.4%

35–5424.8%

55–6410.1%

65+15.3%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

60.9%

21.5%

White60.9%

Black21.5%

Hispanic8.6%

Asian7.6%

Other1.4%

Education (25+)

20.1%

30%

39.7%

No HS diploma10.3%

HS diploma20.1%

Some college30%

Bachelor's+39.7%

Housing tenure

43%

57%

Owner43%

Renter57%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 49512 in Kentwood, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$55,346 → $71,329

up 28.9%

Population

18,245 → 18,373

up 0.7%

Renter share

56.8% → 57%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

42.5% → 39.7%

-2.8 pts

Median age

33.8 → 35.1

+1.3 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $55,346 in 2021 to $71,329 more recently. College-educated residents now make up 39.7% of adults here, versus 42.5% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 49512

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 49512 covers Kentwood, MI. The median rent here is $1,603/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,280/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,530/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($71,329/yr), ZIP 49512 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 49512?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,603/mo in ZIP 49512. The local median household income is $71,329/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 49512?

Rent in ZIP 49512 has risen 7.2% over the past year.

How does ZIP 49512 compare to other ZIPs in Michigan?

ZIP 49512 is in the middle among Michigan ZIP codes for rent, ranking #60 of 168 at $1,603/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 49512 changed +7.2%, against a typical +4.4% across the 134 Michigan ZIP codes Zillow tracks.