Residential delivery area · Wisconsin
ZIP Code 53188: Waukesha, WI
ZIP code 53188 uses the postal name Waukesha, Wisconsin and lies entirely in Waukesha County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 35,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Waukesha's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $92,409 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Waukesha (42%) and Pewaukee (10%); 48% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Waukesha · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Waukesha County
- Census places
- Waukesha (42%); Pewaukee (10%)
- Metro area
- Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
- House district
- WI-5 119th Congress
- State
- Wisconsin
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 26.8 sq mi · 1,301 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 53187 also use the name Waukesha
Where is ZIP code 53188?
53188 centers on 43.020°, -88.294° and covers 26.8 square miles of land plus 0.3 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 53183, 53072, 53186, 53018, 53189.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 53188, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 53188 compare with the rest of Waukesha?
| Measure | 53188 | In Waukesha | In Waukesha County | In WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 34,892 | 1st of 3 | 3rd of 29 | 27th of 783 |
| Median household income | $92k | 2nd of 3 | 23rd of 26 | 143rd of 610 |
| Median home value | $349k | 2nd of 3 | 22nd of 26 | 89th of 612 |
Its median household income is higher than in 75% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 81% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 53188?
The 2020 Census counted 35,552 people in 53188; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 34,892. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 1.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 34,892
- 2020 Census count
- 35,552+1.0% since 2010 (35,195)
- Households
- 14,693
- Median age
- 40.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 53188?
Of the 34,892 people the ACS estimates in 53188, 20.6% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (80.3%), then Hispanic or Latino (10.4%).
- Under 1820.6%
- 18 to 6461.6%
- 65 and older17.8%
- White, not Hispanic80.3%
- Hispanic or Latino10.4%
- Other or two or more3.9%
- Black, not Hispanic2.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic2.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 53188 earn?
Median household income is $92,409 (ACS 2020-2024), the 23rd highest of the 26 ranked ZIP codes in Waukesha County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($84,370 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $92,409
- Income per person
- $47,556
- Below the poverty line
- 8.9%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 43.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $88,25018,200 returns; wages 70% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 53188?
FHFA's house price index for 53188, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 54% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +6.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $348,600
- Median gross rent
- $1,268
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 67.1%
- Housing units
- 14,983
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 53188?
851 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 72 fewer than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance156
- Professional, scientific, and technical services106
- Finance and insurance103
- Other services (except public administration)72
- Construction71
- Retail trade57
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 53188?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53183 | Wales | 3,111 | $109k | 4.0 mi |
| 53072 | Pewaukee | 26,200 | $99k | 4.4 mi |
| 53186 | Waukesha | 33,374 | $75k | 4.5 mi |
| 53018 | Delafield | 8,201 | $125k | 5.2 mi |
| 53189 | Waukesha | 26,855 | $117k | 5.3 mi |
| 53127 | Genesee Depot | 79 | – | 6.2 mi (near) |
| 53045 | Brookfield | 23,329 | $124k | 7.7 mi (near) |
| 53153 | North Prairie | 2,548 | $153k | 7.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.