PlainZIP

Watertown, WI · standard

ZIP Code 53098

Dodge County, Wisconsin — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

11,965
45/sq mi
$74,431
Median income
$253,600
Median home value
17.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Watertown pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 46%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 42%
home value, US ZIPs
45
people per sq mi
67%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53098 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 53098 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 267.7 square miles in Watertown, Dodge County, Wisconsin. The area is home to 11,965 residents, producing a population density of 45 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 53098 against Wisconsin and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 53098 sits at $74,431 (5% below the Wisconsin average), while per-capita income is $38,089. The poverty rate stands at 7.1% and the unemployment rate at 5.2%. On housing, the median home value is $253,600 (2% above the state average) with median rent at $1,134 per month, and 67.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 53098 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Dodge County, so you can benchmark 53098 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 53098

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53098.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 53098, Watertown, WI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

11,965

Population

267.7

Area (sq mi)

45

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 53098?

45.0

Median Age

45.4%

Male

54.6%

Female

3.6%

Foreign-Born

White 88.2%
African American 0.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$74,431

Median Household Income

-5% vs state

$38,089

Per Capita Income

7.1%

Poverty Rate

5.2%

Unemployment Rate

24.7 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 53098 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$74,431 Top 46% higher than 54% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 61.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,779

Total Housing Units

4,604

Occupied Units

175

Vacant Units

2.41

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.2%
Renter 32.8%

$253,600

Median Home Value

+2% vs state

$1,134

Median Rent

1976

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+10.0%

YoY Change (2024)

205

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+105%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 53098 have increased 10.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +105% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.9% 139
2021 +11.9% 155
2022 +13.6% 177
2023 +5.5% 186
2024 +10.0% 205

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 166 business establishments in ZIP 53098, employing approximately 2,407 people with a combined annual payroll of $143,817,000.

166

Businesses

2,407

Employees

$143.8M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 36 21.7%
Health care and social assistance 23 13.9%
Other services (except public administration) 19 11.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 15 9.0%
Retail trade 13 7.8%
Transportation and warehousing 13 7.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 10 6.0%
Accommodation and food services 10 6.0%
Manufacturing 7 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 4.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 2.4%
Wholesale trade 3 1.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 53098 vs 53016 →

ZIP 53098 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53098 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 53098 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 53098 ranks #5 of 8 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
53016 Clyman, WI 384 4.2 mi
53047 Lebanon, WI 78 4.2 mi
53039 Juneau, WI 4,863 8.3 mi
53094 Watertown, WI 19,169 7.2 mi
53557 Lowell, WI 482 7.7 mi
53034 Hustisford, WI 1,811 8.2 mi
53036 Ixonia, WI 2,720 8.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Dodge County

53916 standard
Beaver Dam, WI
Pop: 22,507
53963 standard
Waupun, WI
Pop: 13,910
53050 standard
Mayville, WI
Pop: 6,986
53039 standard
Juneau, WI
Pop: 4,863
53032 standard
Horicon, WI
Pop: 4,757
53933 standard
Fox Lake, WI
Pop: 4,117

Related Areas

Dodge County Watertown, WI Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 53098 in? ▼
ZIP code 53098 (Watertown) is located in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Dodge County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dodge-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53098? ▼
ZIP code 53098 in Watertown, WI has a population of 11,965 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53098? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 53098 is $74,431, which is 2% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53098? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 53098 is $253,600, which is 9% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53098? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 53098 is White at 88.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53098? ▼
ZIP code 53098 has 166 business establishments employing approximately 2,407 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53098? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53098 are: Construction (36), Health care and social assistance (23), Other services (except public administration) (19). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53098? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53098 increased by 10.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 105%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 53098? ▼
In ZIP code 53098, 61.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 53098? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53098 is 24.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 53098? ▼
In ZIP code 53098, approximately 67.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53098? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53098 is 7.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Watertown, WI

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.