48197 and 49508 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
48197
49508
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 24%
vs30 · Bottom 9%
Growth
36 · Bottom 27%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Climate
60 · Bottom 13%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
96 · Top 2%
vs94 · Top 5%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 45%
vs80 · Top 50%
Schools
48 · Bottom 45%
vs52 · Top 49%
Access
96 · Top 35%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
60 · Top 50%
vs67 · Top 36%
Measured values
| Metric | 48197 | 49508 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,525 | 42,720 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,737 | $70,120 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,558 | $33,638 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,613/sq mi | 3,628/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $294,500 | $281,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,245 | $1,264 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.9% | 60.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.1% | -7.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.5% | 34.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 169 | 119 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.5 | 2.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -47.7% | 54.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 15°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.8" | 39.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 22.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.4 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 19 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.17 | 17.30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 29.0% | 34.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.0% | 46.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 55.6% | 73.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
48197
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
49508
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 48197 — Ypsilanti, MI · 49508 — Kentwood, MI · How this is calculated: methodology