| City: | Chippewa Lake, Michigan |
| County: | Mecosta County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 8:17:46 PM |
| Population: | 270 [See All] |
| Area Code: | 231 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 43.7439, -85.2973 |
| Land Area: | 1.132 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Chippewa Lake is a small lakeside community in central Michigan's Mecosta County, spanning less than one square mile. With 270 year-round residents and 288 total housing units, this is a seasonal vacation destination where nearly half of all homes (47%) sit vacant for much of the year, used primarily for summer recreation.
This is a PO Box Only Zone. No alternative mail delivery exists. The Chippewa Lake post office maintains 155 PO Boxes for 144 occupied households, with the extra capacity serving seasonal homeowners who maintain boxes year-round even when their vacation properties sit empty. Rural carrier route R001 serves the surrounding area, but PO Boxes remain the primary mail access method.
Street names tell the story of a lake community. East Chippewa Lake Drive and West Chippewa Lake Drive ring the main lake, while Bullhead Lake Drive, Lakeshore Drive, and Lake Street connect to smaller bodies of water. The numbered Mile Roads (17 Mile, 18 Mile, 19 Mile, 20 Mile, 21 Mile) follow the rural Michigan township grid system common in this part of the state.
With a median age of 54.7 years, this isn't a family vacation spot. It's a quiet retreat for older adults seeking lakefront relaxation. Only 9 residents are under 18. The median home value of $121,400 makes this an affordable lakeside option compared to Michigan's more developed resort areas.
The community has minimal year-round infrastructure. Zero business establishments are registered in this ZIP code. Most residents commute elsewhere for work or are retired. The post office serves as the primary community institution, the only permanent service facility in this seasonal enclave.
Street names center on lakefront access with Chippewa Lake Drive, Bullhead Lake Drive, and Lakeshore Drive, while numbered Mile Roads reflect rural Michigan's township grid.
ZIP Code 49320 has 270 residents and 144 households (average 1.88 persons per household). The median age is 54.7 years, significantly older than the state (40.1) and significantly older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 55.2% male and 44.8% female, which is higher than the national male share (49.1%), making this a male-majority area. Largest groups are White (96.3%, much higher than the state average of 73.9% and well above the national average of 61.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (0.7%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.7%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 270Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 220Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 238.5 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $68,804Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 144Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $121,400Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 1.88Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.58Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 75 | 75 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 79 | 81 | 92 | 22 | 14 | 265 | 239 | 220 |
| Decennial Census | 21 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 270 | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 54.7
Male Median Age: 55.3
Female Median Age: 53.5
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 9 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Female | 12 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 20 | 34 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 7 |
| White: | 260 | 98.48% |
| Black: | 0 | 0% |
| Hispanic:* | 2 | 0.76% |
| Asian: | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian: | 2 | 0.76% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 264 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 149 | 55.19% | 55.3 years |
| Females: | 121 | 44.81% | 53.5 years |
| Total: | 270 | 100% | 54.7 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 220 | 100.00% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Population: | 220 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 220 | 100.00% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 0 | 0.00% |
In 2023, the Median household income is $68,804, which is far less than the national median ($78,538), is up $42,866 (165.3%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $17,842. Family households earn a median of $55,833 versus $69,167 for nonfamily households (a difference of $13,334). By gender, male median income is $63,798 and female is $0, which is well under the state female median ($51,279), with a current gap of $63,798 that has widened from 2011 to 2023. The labor-force participation rate is 55.7%, which is far less than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 26.8%, which is considerably above the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Natural resources (35.4%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $25,938 | $25,833 | $0 | $26,250 | $0 | $70,069 | $49,615 | $72,625 | $50,962 | $50,000 | $68,214 | $66,696 | $68,804 |
| Median Family Income | $22,250 | $22,159 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $68,750 | $66,518 | $55,833 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $48,864 | $48,750 | $51,250 | $50,962 | $50,000 | $42,750 | $55,556 | $69,167 |
| Median Male Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $55,655 | $60,294 | $63,798 |
| Median Female Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Employed: | 82 | 40.80% |
| Unemployed: | 30 | 14.93% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 89 | 44.28% |
| Total: | 201 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 11 | 13.41% |
| Service: | 12 | 14.63% |
| Sales and Office: | 3 | 3.66% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 29 | 35.37% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 27 | 32.93% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 82 | 100% |
In 2023, the median home value is $121,400, which is considerably lower than the national median ($303,400), is down $83,600 (40.78%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $121,400. The median gross rent is $719, which is much lower than the national median ($1,348), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $719. Of occupied housing, owners make up 72.22% (15.38% with a mortgage, 84.62% free-and-clear) and renters 27.78% - making this ZIP Code less home ownership than the state and under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 68.20%, which is considerably higher than the national rate (10.43%).
Explore More:Compare Home ValueHome Value Over TimeRent & Over TimeHousing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $205,000 | $204,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $61,400 | $50,000 | $63,100 | $0 | $0 | $140,900 | $124,500 | $121,400 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 25 | 100.00% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 25 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $962 | $1,037 | $719 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 10 | 11.11% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 55 | 61.11% |
| Renter Occupied: | 25 | 27.78% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 90 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 90 | 31.80% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 193 | 68.20% |
| Total Housing Units: | 283 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 210 | 74.20% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 12 | 4.24% |
| Other Units: | 61 | 21.55% |
| Total Housing Units: | 283 | 100% |
In 2023, 3.40% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is far lower than the national rate (35.00%). High school or higher is 86.30%, which is on par with the state rate (91.90%). The uninsured rate is 9.10%, which is on par with the state rate (5.00%). Public coverage is 60.50%, which is far higher than the national rate (36.30%). The share of people in poverty is 12.50%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.70%), down 43.10 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 666,666,678.50 percentage points. This points to a pronounced improvement in local conditions - rising incomes, firmer consumer demand, and a stronger tax base. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is kindergarten (100.00%). College enrollment is 0.00%, which is comparable to the national rate (26.70%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0.00% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 24 | 13.71% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 64 | 36.57% |
| Some college, no degree: | 66 | 37.71% |
| Associate's degree: | 15 | 8.57% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 6 | 3.43% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 175 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 151 | 86.29% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 6 | 3.43% |
| Private Insurance: | 127 | 45.36% |
| Public Insurance: | 133 | 47.50% |
| No Insurance: | 20 | 7.14% |
| Total: | 280 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 260 | 92.86% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 55.6% | 57.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -666,666,666.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.5% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 3 | 100.00% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 0 | 0.00% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 0 | 0.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 3 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 3 | 100.00% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 3 | 100.00% |
ZIP Code 49320 is designated for PO Box delivery only; business establishment and employment data are not available.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 783Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 0Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $0Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $0Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 0Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 49320 is located in Mecosta County, Michigan, within the Big Rapids, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 13660) and Michigan's 2nd Congressional District. This Micro area has a population of 40,321 people, about 0.67% of whom live in ZIP Code 49320. It covers 1.132 sq mi of land and a water area of 1.22 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Big Rapids, MISource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 13660Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MicroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 40,321Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 1.132 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 1.22 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 02Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 3281.19 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | --Source: Census |
| Place Name: | --Source: Census |
We could not locate which school district 49320 belongs to, but we will update this once new district data is released. There are no public schools nor private schools with a mailing address in this ZIP Code. Listing Nearby schools instead. It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on January 1, 2026.