Milwaukee, WI · standard
ZIP Code 53208
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 31,133
- 3,079/sq mi High-density area
- $52,690
- Median income Below-median income area
- $204,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 32.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milwaukee pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,079
- people per sq mi
- 39%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53208 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 53208 (Milwaukee, WI) rose +1.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 240.2 in 2023 to 244.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 53208 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, with 31,133 residents across 10.1 square miles, a density of 3,079 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 53208 reports a modest median household income of $52,690 (33% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,327. The poverty rate is 21.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $204,500 (18% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), and median rent is $936; owner occupancy is 39.2%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 32.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Milwaukee County, so 53208 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 53208
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milwaukee, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53208.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
129 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
66 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
61 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 41
Accommodation and food services
41 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 39
Professional, scientific, and technical services
39 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 53208, Milwaukee, 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
31,133
Population
10.1
Area (sq mi)
3,079
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 53208?
33.0
Median Age
47.7%
Male
52.3%
Female
9.3%
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?
$52,690
Median Household Income
-33% vs state ZIP avg
$32,327
Per Capita Income
21.6%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 53208 ranks nationally
Milwaukee, WI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$52,690 18th percentile higher than 18% 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
13,806housing units
13,806
Total Housing Units
11,696
Occupied Units
2,110
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$204,500
Median Home Value
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$936
Median Rent
1938
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
+1.9%
YoY Change (2024)
245
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+145%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 53208 have increased 1.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +145% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 167 |
| 2021 | +11.0% | 185 |
| 2022 | +12.3% | 208 |
| 2023 | +15.7% | 240 |
| 2024 | +1.9% | 245 |
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 527 business establishments in ZIP 53208, employing approximately 12,775 people with a combined annual payroll of $964,885,000.
527
Businesses
12,775
Employees
$964.9M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 129 | 24.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 66 | 12.5% |
| Retail trade | 61 | 11.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 41 | 7.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 39 | 7.4% |
| Manufacturing | 32 | 6.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 26 | 4.9% |
| Construction | 20 | 3.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 3.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 17 | 3.2% |
| Information | 13 | 2.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 13 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 12 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 2.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 2.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 1.7% |
| Utilities | 6 | 1.1% |
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 53208 vs 53210 →
ZIP 53208 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53215
Milwaukee (53215)
60,953 residents
- 53204
Milwaukee (53204)
42,355 residents
- 53216
Milwaukee (53216)
32,264 residents
- 53208
Milwaukee (53208)
31,133 residents
- 53206
Milwaukee (53206)
28,210 residents
- 53210
Milwaukee (53210)
28,126 residents
- 53213
Milwaukee (53213)
26,020 residents
- 53233 16,453
Milwaukee (53233)
16,453 residents
- 53205 10,050
Milwaukee (53205)
10,050 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53208 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 53208 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53213
Milwaukee (53213)
$101,688 median income
- 53203
Milwaukee (53203)
$86,159 median income
- 53215
Milwaukee (53215)
$54,289 median income
- 53208
Milwaukee (53208)
$52,690 median income
- 53210
Milwaukee (53210)
$48,217 median income
- 53216
Milwaukee (53216)
$46,752 median income
- 53204
Milwaukee (53204)
$45,934 median income
- 53205 $31,529
Milwaukee (53205)
$31,529 median income
- 53206 $29,336
Milwaukee (53206)
$29,336 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 53208 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53210 | Milwaukee, WI | 28,126 | 1.6 mi |
| 53295 | Milwaukee, WI | 359 | 1.8 mi |
| 53213 | Milwaukee, WI | 26,020 | 1.8 mi |
| 53205 | Milwaukee, WI | 10,050 | 1.7 mi |
| 53233 | Milwaukee, WI | 16,453 | 1.7 mi |
| 53216 | Milwaukee, WI | 32,264 | 2.8 mi |
| 53203 | Milwaukee, WI | 938 | 2.6 mi |
| 53206 | Milwaukee, WI | 28,210 | 2.5 mi |
| 53215 | Milwaukee, WI | 60,953 | 3.4 mi |
| 53204 | Milwaukee, WI | 42,355 | 2.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 53208, 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 (31,133 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Milwaukee County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 53208 in?
ZIP code 53208 (Milwaukee) is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Milwaukee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/milwaukee-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53208?
ZIP code 53208 in Milwaukee, WI has a population of 31,133 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53208?
The median household income in ZIP 53208 is $52,690, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53208?
The median home value in ZIP 53208 is $204,500, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53208?
The largest racial group in ZIP 53208 is African American at 41.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53208?
ZIP code 53208 has 527 business establishments employing approximately 12,775 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53208?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53208 are: Health care and social assistance (129), Other services (except public administration) (66), Retail trade (61). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53208?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53208 increased by 1.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 145%. 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 53208?
In ZIP code 53208, 60.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 32.6% 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 53208?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53208 is 20.8 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 53208?
In ZIP code 53208, approximately 39.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 60.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53208?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53208 is 21.6% 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 53208's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 53208 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Milwaukee, 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.