Richland Center, WI · standard
ZIP Code 53581
Richland County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,699
- 17/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $64,833
- Median income Near-median income area
- $196,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Richland Center pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 38th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 42nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 17
- people per sq mi
- 66%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 53581 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 53581 (Richland Center, WI) rose +7.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 194.6 in 2023 to 209.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 53581 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Richland Center, Richland County, Wisconsin, home to 10,699 residents across 614.9 square miles, a density of 17 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 53581 reports a modest median household income of $64,833 (17% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,705. The poverty rate is 14.2%, with unemployment at 3.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $196,100 (21% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), and median rent is $724; owner occupancy is 66.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.5, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in Richland County, so 53581 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 53581
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Richland Center, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 53581.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
49 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
42 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
33 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
27 establishments
- Construction
Construction
26 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 53581, Richland Center, 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
10,699
Population
614.9
Area (sq mi)
17
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 53581?
46.5
Median Age
49.0%
Male
51.0%
Female
2.9%
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?
$64,833
Median Household Income
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$37,705
Per Capita Income
14.2%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
21.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 53581 ranks among Wisconsin ZIPs
Richland Center, WI household income vs. every Wisconsin ZIP code
Median household income among 755 reporting Wisconsin ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$64,833 25th percentile higher than 25% of 755 Wisconsin ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Wisconsin 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
4,934housing units
4,934
Total Housing Units
4,354
Occupied Units
580
Vacant Units
2.27
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$196,100
Median Home Value
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$724
Median Rent
1968
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
+7.8%
YoY Change (2024)
210
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+110%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 53581 have increased 7.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +110% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.0% | 145 |
| 2021 | +13.7% | 164 |
| 2022 | +12.6% | 185 |
| 2023 | +5.2% | 195 |
| 2024 | +7.8% | 210 |
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 293 business establishments in ZIP 53581, employing approximately 3,873 people with a combined annual payroll of $171,112,000.
293
Businesses
3,873
Employees
$171.1M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 49 | 16.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 42 | 14.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 33 | 11.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 27 | 9.2% |
| Construction | 26 | 8.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 6.8% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 5.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 16 | 5.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 3.1% |
| Information | 8 | 2.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 2.0% |
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 53581 vs 53540 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53540 | Gotham, WI | 169 | 11.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 53581, 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 (10,699 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Richland County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 53581 in?
ZIP code 53581 (Richland Center) is located in Richland County, Wisconsin. Richland County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/richland-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 53581?
ZIP code 53581 in Richland Center, WI has a population of 10,699 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 53581?
The median household income in ZIP 53581 is $64,833, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 53581?
The median home value in ZIP 53581 is $196,100, which is 29% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 53581?
The largest racial group in ZIP 53581 is White at 91.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 53581?
ZIP code 53581 has 293 business establishments employing approximately 3,873 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 53581?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 53581 are: Retail trade (49), Health care and social assistance (42), Other services (except public administration) (33). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 53581?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 53581 increased by 7.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 110%. 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 53581?
In ZIP code 53581, 65.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.9% 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 53581?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 53581 is 21.6 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 53581?
In ZIP code 53581, approximately 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 53581?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 53581 is 14.2% 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 53581's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 53581 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Richland Center, 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.