Residential delivery area · Wisconsin
ZIP Code 53538: Fort Atkinson, WI
ZIP code 53538 uses the postal name Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and lies mostly in Jefferson County (98% of its land) with the rest in Rock County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 19,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $82,783 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Lake Koshkonong (12%), Fort Atkinson (6%) and Hebron (3%); 80% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Fort Atkinson · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Jefferson County (98%); Rock County (2%)
- Census places
- Lake Koshkonong (12%) census-designated place; Fort Atkinson (6%); Hebron (3%) census-designated place
- Micro area
- Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI
- House districts
- WI-5 (98%), WI-1 (2%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Wisconsin
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 97.1 sq mi · 194 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 53538?
53538 centers on 42.909°, -88.872° and covers 97.1 square miles of land plus 17.0 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 53549, 53563, 53523, 53190, 53534, 53551.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 53538, 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 53538 compare with the rest of Jefferson County?
| Measure | 53538 | In Jefferson County | In WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 18,813 | 3rd of 17 | 117th of 783 |
| Median household income | $83k | 14th of 17 | 247th of 610 |
| Median home value | $246k | 14th of 17 | 285th of 612 |
Its median household income is higher than in 65% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 62% 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 53538?
The 2020 Census counted 18,643 people in 53538; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 18,813. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 0.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 18,813
- 2020 Census count
- 18,643+0.9% since 2010 (18,468)
- Households
- 7,960
- Median age
- 44.6
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 53538?
Of the 18,813 people the ACS estimates in 53538, 20.4% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (84.6%), then Hispanic or Latino (12.1%).
- Under 1820.4%
- 18 to 6460.0%
- 65 and older19.6%
- White, not Hispanic84.6%
- Hispanic or Latino12.1%
- Other or two or more1.9%
- Black, not Hispanic0.8%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
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 53538 earn?
Median household income is $82,783 (ACS 2020-2024), the 14th highest of the 17 ranked ZIP codes in Jefferson County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($75,846 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $82,783
- Income per person
- $41,516
- Below the poverty line
- 6.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.8%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 26.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $74,6489,410 returns; wages 66% 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 53538?
FHFA's house price index for 53538, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 91% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 54% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $245,900
- Median gross rent
- $955
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.3%
- Housing units
- 8,373
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 53538?
474 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 fewer than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance79
- Construction58
- Accommodation and food services54
- Retail trade47
- Other services (except public administration)42
- Transportation and warehousing28
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 53538?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53549 | Jefferson | 9,873 | $80k | 7.5 mi |
| 53563 | Milton | 11,280 | $90k | 9.4 mi |
| 53523 | Cambridge | 5,074 | $102k | 9.5 mi |
| 53190 | Whitewater | 20,499 | $66k | 9.8 mi |
| 53534 | Edgerton | 12,241 | $89k | 11.7 mi |
| 53551 | Lake Mills | 9,731 | $94k | 12.0 mi |
| 53137 | Helenville | 1,650 | $117k | 12.3 mi (near) |
| 53038 | Johnson Creek | 4,192 | $96k | 12.8 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.