Sturgeon Bay, WI · standard
ZIP Code 54235
Door County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,203
- 35/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $70,212
- Median income Near-median income area
- $297,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Sturgeon Bay pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 47th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 34%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 35
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 54235 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 54235 (Sturgeon Bay, WI) rose +11.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 223.2 in 2023 to 248.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 54235 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, home to 17,203 residents across 497.2 square miles, a density of 35 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 54235 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,212 (10% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,750. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.7% and unemployment is 2.6%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $297,300 (19% above the average Wisconsin ZIP), while 73.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,086.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 52.4, and the average commute is 15 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Door County, so 54235 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 54235
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sturgeon Bay, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 54235.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
114 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
84 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
71 establishments
- Construction
Construction
56 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
54 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 54235, Sturgeon Bay, 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
17,203
Population
497.2
Area (sq mi)
35
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 54235?
52.4
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
3.5%
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?
$70,212
Median Household Income
-10% vs state ZIP avg
$50,750
Per Capita Income
7.7%
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Unemployment Rate
15.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 54235 ranks among Wisconsin ZIPs
Sturgeon Bay, 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)
$70,212 36th percentile higher than 36% 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
12,089housing units
12,089
Total Housing Units
8,940
Occupied Units
3,149
Vacant Units
1.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$297,300
Median Home Value
+19% vs state ZIP avg
$1,086
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
+11.2%
YoY Change (2024)
248
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+148%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 54235 have increased 11.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +148% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.8% | 145 |
| 2021 | +11.7% | 162 |
| 2022 | +22.1% | 197 |
| 2023 | +13.1% | 223 |
| 2024 | +11.2% | 248 |
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 621 business establishments in ZIP 54235, employing approximately 7,320 people with a combined annual payroll of $352,315,000.
621
Businesses
7,320
Employees
$352.3M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 114 | 18.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 84 | 13.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 71 | 11.4% |
| Construction | 56 | 9.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 54 | 8.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 50 | 8.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 41 | 6.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 29 | 4.7% |
| Manufacturing | 28 | 4.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 3.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 20 | 3.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 2.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 2.1% |
| Information | 11 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.6% |
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 54235 vs 54213 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54213 | Forestville, WI | 1,276 | 12.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 54235, 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 (17,203 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Door County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 54235 in?
ZIP code 54235 (Sturgeon Bay) is located in Door County, Wisconsin. Door County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/door-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 54235?
ZIP code 54235 in Sturgeon Bay, WI has a population of 17,203 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 54235?
The median household income in ZIP 54235 is $70,212, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 54235?
The median home value in ZIP 54235 is $297,300, which is 7% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 54235?
The largest racial group in ZIP 54235 is White at 91.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 54235?
ZIP code 54235 has 621 business establishments employing approximately 7,320 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 54235?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 54235 are: Retail trade (114), Accommodation and food services (84), Other services (except public administration) (71). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 54235?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 54235 increased by 11.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 148%. 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 54235?
In ZIP code 54235, 58.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.4% 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 54235?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 54235 is 15.3 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 54235?
In ZIP code 54235, approximately 73.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 54235?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 54235 is 7.7% 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 54235's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 54235 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Sturgeon Bay, 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.