48602 and 48506 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
48602
48506
Opportunity
7 · Bottom 1%
vs5 · Bottom 1%
Growth
3 · Bottom 1%
vs4 · Bottom 1%
Climate
60 · Bottom 16%
vs60 · Bottom 15%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs83 · Top 19%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs88 · Top 36%
Schools
36 · Bottom 30%
vs32 · Bottom 25%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs81 · Bottom 22%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 6%
vs27 · Bottom 6%
Measured values
| Metric | 48602 | 48506 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 27,127 | 24,712 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $46,984 | $47,929 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $23,838 | $25,964 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,471/sq mi | 1,336/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $73,600 | $91,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $933 | $930 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.2% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 10.0% | 12.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -6.3% | -6.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 9.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 28.8% | 27.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 0 | 0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.1" | 32.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 39 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 29.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.1 | 38.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.48 | 19.17 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.6% | 20.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 35.8% | 37.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 79.1% | 81.0% | 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
48602
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, inland flooding.
48506
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind.
Full profiles: 48602 — Saginaw, MI · 48506 — Flint, MI · How this is calculated: methodology