Waukesha, WI · standard
ZIP Code 53188
Waukesha County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 35,195
- 493/sq mi High-density area
- $92,409
- Median income Above-median income area
- $348,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 43.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waukesha pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 25%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 27%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 493
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53188 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 53188 (Waukesha, WI) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 211.9 in 2023 to 222.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 53188 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, with 35,195 residents across 71.4 square miles, a density of 493 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 53188 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,409 (18% above the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $47,556. The poverty rate is 8.9%, with unemployment at 2.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $348,600 (40% above the average Wisconsin ZIP), while 67.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,268.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 43.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.5, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Waukesha County, so 53188 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 53188
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waukesha, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53188.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
156 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
106 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
103 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
72 establishments
- Construction
Construction
71 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 53188, Waukesha, 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
35,195
Population
71.4
Area (sq mi)
493
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 53188?
40.5
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
6.1%
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?
$92,409
Median Household Income
+18% vs state ZIP avg
$47,556
Per Capita Income
8.9%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 53188 ranks nationally
Waukesha, WI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$92,409 Top 25% higher than 75% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
14,983housing units
14,983
Total Housing Units
14,693
Occupied Units
290
Vacant Units
2.33
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$348,600
Median Home Value
+40% vs state ZIP avg
$1,268
Median Rent
1980
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
+5.0%
YoY Change (2024)
223
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+123%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 53188 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +123% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 155 |
| 2021 | +8.6% | 168 |
| 2022 | +13.2% | 190 |
| 2023 | +11.2% | 212 |
| 2024 | +5.0% | 223 |
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 851 business establishments in ZIP 53188, employing approximately 20,084 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,703,042,000.
851
Businesses
20,084
Employees
$1.7B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 156 | 18.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 106 | 12.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 103 | 12.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 72 | 8.5% |
| Construction | 71 | 8.3% |
| Retail trade | 57 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 52 | 6.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 47 | 5.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 43 | 5.0% |
| Manufacturing | 38 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 36 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 | 2.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 14 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 1.3% |
| Information | 10 | 1.2% |
| Utilities | 7 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 7 | 0.8% |
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 53188 vs 53189 →
ZIP 53188 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53188
Waukesha (53188)
35,195 residents
- 53186
Waukesha (53186)
33,592 residents
- 53189
Waukesha (53189)
26,228 residents
- 53072
Pewaukee (53072)
23,907 residents
- 53045
Brookfield (53045)
21,686 residents
- 53029
Hartland (53029)
20,799 residents
- 53089
Sussex (53089)
18,568 residents
- 53018 7,899
Delafield (53018)
7,899 residents
- 53146 7,458
New Berlin (53146)
7,458 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53188 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 53188 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53018
Delafield (53018)
$124,595 median income
- 53045
Brookfield (53045)
$123,750 median income
- 53089
Sussex (53089)
$120,875 median income
- 53189
Waukesha (53189)
$117,008 median income
- 53146
New Berlin (53146)
$110,035 median income
- 53183
Wales (53183)
$108,827 median income
- 53029
Hartland (53029)
$108,152 median income
- 53072
Pewaukee (53072)
$98,538 median income
- 53188
Waukesha (53188)
$92,409 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 53188 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53189 | Waukesha, WI | 26,228 | 4.8 mi |
| 53072 | Pewaukee, WI | 23,907 | 4.3 mi |
| 53186 | Waukesha, WI | 33,592 | 4.5 mi |
| 53702 | Madison, WI | 50 | 4.1 mi |
| 53183 | Wales, WI | 2,815 | 4.3 mi |
| 53018 | Delafield, WI | 7,899 | 5.4 mi |
| 53029 | Hartland, WI | 20,799 | 9.0 mi |
| 53045 | Brookfield, WI | 21,686 | 7.6 mi |
| 53089 | Sussex, WI | 18,568 | 9.1 mi |
| 53146 | New Berlin, WI | 7,458 | 7.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 53188, 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 (35,195 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Waukesha County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 53188 in?
ZIP code 53188 (Waukesha) is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Waukesha County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/waukesha-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53188?
ZIP code 53188 in Waukesha, WI has a population of 35,195 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53188?
The median household income in ZIP 53188 is $92,409, which is 21% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53188?
The median home value in ZIP 53188 is $348,600, which is 25% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53188?
The largest racial group in ZIP 53188 is White at 82.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53188?
ZIP code 53188 has 851 business establishments employing approximately 20,084 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53188?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53188 are: Health care and social assistance (156), Professional, scientific, and technical services (106), Finance and insurance (103). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53188?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53188 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 123%. 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 53188?
In ZIP code 53188, 63.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 43.0% 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 53188?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53188 is 22.6 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 53188?
In ZIP code 53188, approximately 67.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53188?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53188 is 8.9% 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 53188's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 53188 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waukesha, WI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.