Waterford, WI · standard
ZIP Code 53185
Racine County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,551
- 156/sq mi High-density area
- $103,225
- Median income Above-median income area
- $384,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 33.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waterford pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 17%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 22%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 156
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53185 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 53185 (Waterford, WI) rose +3.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 218.3 in 2023 to 226.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 53185 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waterford, Racine County, Wisconsin, home to 18,551 residents across 119.0 square miles, a density of 156 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 53185 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $103,225 (32% above the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $52,260. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.4% and unemployment is 3.1%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $384,600 (55% above the average Wisconsin ZIP), while 82.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,212.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.9, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Racine County, so 53185 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 53185
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waterford, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53185.
- Construction
Construction
66 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
44 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
44 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
39 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 53185, Waterford, WI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
18,551
Population
119.0
Area (sq mi)
156
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 53185?
48.9
Median Age
51.2%
Male
48.8%
Female
2.0%
Foreign-Born
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?
$103,225
Median Household Income
+32% vs state ZIP avg
$52,260
Per Capita Income
4.4%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 53185 ranks among Wisconsin ZIPs
Waterford, WI household income vs. every Wisconsin ZIP code
Median household income among 755 reporting Wisconsin ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$103,225 Top 9% higher than 91% of 755 Wisconsin ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Wisconsin 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,211housing units
8,211
Total Housing Units
7,759
Occupied Units
452
Vacant Units
2.39
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$384,600
Median Home Value
+55% vs state ZIP avg
$1,212
Median Rent
1989
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
+3.7%
YoY Change (2024)
226
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+126%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 53185 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +126% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 162 |
| 2021 | +9.3% | 177 |
| 2022 | +14.4% | 202 |
| 2023 | +8.0% | 218 |
| 2024 | +3.7% | 226 |
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 367 business establishments in ZIP 53185, employing approximately 3,443 people with a combined annual payroll of $161,997,000.
367
Businesses
3,443
Employees
$162.0M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 66 | 18.0% |
| Retail trade | 44 | 12.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 44 | 12.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 39 | 10.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 9.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 29 | 7.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 5.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18 | 4.9% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 3.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 3.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 2.7% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.6% |
| Information | 5 | 1.4% |
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 53185 vs 53167 →
ZIP 53185 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53105
Burlington (53105)
29,225 residents
- 53150
Muskego (53150)
24,850 residents
- 53149
Mukwonago (53149)
19,057 residents
- 53185
Waterford (53185)
18,551 residents
- 53130 7,755
Hales Corners (53130)
7,755 residents
- 53103 3,724
Big Bend (53103)
3,724 residents
- 53139 2,802
Kansasville (53139)
2,802 residents
- 53167 399
Rochester (53167)
399 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53185 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 53185 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53103
Big Bend (53103)
$137,083 median income
- 53149
Mukwonago (53149)
$110,608 median income
- 53150
Muskego (53150)
$109,276 median income
- 53185
Waterford (53185)
$103,225 median income
- 53139
Kansasville (53139)
$99,635 median income
- 53105
Burlington (53105)
$88,770 median income
- 53130
Hales Corners (53130)
$87,008 median income
- 53167
Rochester (53167)
$70,054 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 53185 ranks #4 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 53185, both outside WI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,551 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Racine County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 53185 in?
ZIP code 53185 (Waterford) is located in Racine County, Wisconsin. Racine County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/racine-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53185?
ZIP code 53185 in Waterford, WI has a population of 18,551 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53185?
The median household income in ZIP 53185 is $103,225, which is 35% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53185?
The median home value in ZIP 53185 is $384,600, which is 38% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53185?
The largest racial group in ZIP 53185 is White at 91.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53185?
ZIP code 53185 has 367 business establishments employing approximately 3,443 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53185?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53185 are: Construction (66), Retail trade (44), Health care and social assistance (44). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53185?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53185 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 126%. 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 53185?
In ZIP code 53185, 63.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.5% 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 53185?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53185 is 28.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 53185?
In ZIP code 53185, approximately 82.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 17.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53185?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53185 is 4.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 53185's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 53185 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waterford, WI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.