49251 leans heavily Republican by roughly 34 points: about 33% of voters vote Democratic and 67% Republican.
About 91% of adults in 49251 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 49251, ~30% vote Democratic, ~61% Republican, and ~9% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 49251 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 49251 leans more Republican than 7 of 11 neighbors.
49251 runs about 32 points more Republican than Michigan as a whole.
Why 49251 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 49251. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; 49251, MI sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 49251 looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. 49251 is in the top quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 71%, about 11 points above the U.S. average of 60%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Michigan Department of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.