Milwaukee, WI · standard
ZIP Code 53218
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 40,625
- 2,671/sq mi High-density area
- $45,642
- Median income Below-median income area
- $133,400
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 10.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milwaukee pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 10th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 21st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,671
- people per sq mi
- 43%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53218 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 53218 (Milwaukee, WI) rose +14.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.2 in 2023 to 242.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 53218 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, with 40,625 residents across 15.2 square miles, a density of 2,671 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 53218 reports a modest median household income of $45,642 (42% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $22,824. Economic pressure is pronounced: 25.9% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.3%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $133,400 (46% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), and median rent is $1,067; owner occupancy is 42.9%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 10.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.6, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Milwaukee County, so 53218 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 53218
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milwaukee, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53218.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
158 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
68 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 33
Accommodation and food services
33 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 28
Other services (except public administration)
28 establishments
- Manufacturing 25
Manufacturing
25 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 53218, 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
40,625
Population
15.2
Area (sq mi)
2,671
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 53218?
30.6
Median Age
47.7%
Male
52.3%
Female
6.8%
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?
$45,642
Median Household Income
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$22,824
Per Capita Income
25.9%
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Unemployment Rate
23.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 53218 ranks nationally
Milwaukee, WI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$45,642 10th percentile higher than 10% 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
16,413housing units
16,413
Total Housing Units
15,127
Occupied Units
1,286
Vacant Units
2.71
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$133,400
Median Home Value
-46% vs state ZIP avg
$1,067
Median Rent
1956
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
+14.4%
YoY Change (2024)
243
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+143%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 53218 have increased 14.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +143% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +11.4% | 145 |
| 2021 | +18.5% | 171 |
| 2022 | +14.9% | 197 |
| 2023 | +7.8% | 212 |
| 2024 | +14.4% | 243 |
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 416 business establishments in ZIP 53218, employing approximately 4,306 people with a combined annual payroll of $185,544,000.
416
Businesses
4,306
Employees
$185.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 158 | 38.0% |
| Retail trade | 68 | 16.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 33 | 7.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 28 | 6.7% |
| Manufacturing | 25 | 6.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 21 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 5.0% |
| Construction | 13 | 3.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 | 2.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 11 | 2.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 1.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 1.7% |
| Information | 5 | 1.2% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 1.0% |
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 53218 vs 53216 →
ZIP 53218 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 53209
Milwaukee (53209)
46,917 residents
- 53218
Milwaukee (53218)
40,625 residents
- 53216
Milwaukee (53216)
32,264 residents
- 53208
Milwaukee (53208)
31,133 residents
- 53223
Milwaukee (53223)
29,230 residents
- 53210
Milwaukee (53210)
28,126 residents
- 53213
Milwaukee (53213)
26,020 residents
- 53225
Milwaukee (53225)
25,706 residents
- 53222
Milwaukee (53222)
25,165 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 53218 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 53218 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
- 53222
Milwaukee (53222)
$76,980 median income
- 53224
Milwaukee (53224)
$67,803 median income
- 53223
Milwaukee (53223)
$60,839 median income
- 53007
Butler (53007)
$60,000 median income
- 53225
Milwaukee (53225)
$56,545 median income
- 53208
Milwaukee (53208)
$52,690 median income
- 53209
Milwaukee (53209)
$48,486 median income
- 53210
Milwaukee (53210)
$48,217 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 53218 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53216 | Milwaukee, WI | 32,264 | 2.1 mi |
| 53225 | Milwaukee, WI | 25,706 | 2.5 mi |
| 53223 | Milwaukee, WI | 29,230 | 3.4 mi |
| 53209 | Milwaukee, WI | 46,917 | 2.5 mi |
| 53210 | Milwaukee, WI | 28,126 | 3.3 mi |
| 53213 | Milwaukee, WI | 26,020 | 4.6 mi |
| 53222 | Milwaukee, WI | 25,165 | 3.1 mi |
| 53007 | Butler, WI | 1,841 | 4.0 mi |
| 53224 | Milwaukee, WI | 21,284 | 4.1 mi |
| 53208 | Milwaukee, WI | 31,133 | 4.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 53218, 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 (40,625 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 53218 in?
ZIP code 53218 (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 53218?
ZIP code 53218 in Milwaukee, WI has a population of 40,625 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53218?
The median household income in ZIP 53218 is $45,642, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53218?
The median home value in ZIP 53218 is $133,400, which is 52% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53218?
The largest racial group in ZIP 53218 is African American at 71.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53218?
ZIP code 53218 has 416 business establishments employing approximately 4,306 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53218?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53218 are: Health care and social assistance (158), Retail trade (68), Accommodation and food services (33). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53218?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53218 increased by 14.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 143%. 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 53218?
In ZIP code 53218, 53.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 10.7% 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 53218?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53218 is 23.2 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 53218?
In ZIP code 53218, approximately 42.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 57.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53218?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53218 is 25.9% 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 53218's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 53218 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.