La Crosse, WI · standard
ZIP Code 54603
La Crosse County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,305
- 603/sq mi High-density area
- $52,012
- Median income Below-median income area
- $181,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
La Crosse pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 17th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 603
- people per sq mi
- 52%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 54603 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 54603 (La Crosse, WI) rose +7.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 229.8 in 2023 to 246.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 54603 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin, home to 14,305 residents across 23.7 square miles, a density of 603 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 54603 reports a modest median household income of $52,012 (33% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,754. The poverty rate is 16.3%, with unemployment at 6.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $181,900 (27% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), and median rent is $966; owner occupancy is 52.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.6, and the average commute is 16 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in La Crosse County, so 54603 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 54603
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in La Crosse, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 54603.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
57 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
55 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
51 establishments
- Construction
Construction
44 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
44 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 54603, La Crosse, 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
14,305
Population
23.7
Area (sq mi)
603
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 54603?
38.6
Median Age
51.9%
Male
48.1%
Female
3.0%
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?
$52,012
Median Household Income
-33% vs state ZIP avg
$33,754
Per Capita Income
16.3%
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Unemployment Rate
16.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 54603 ranks among Wisconsin ZIPs
La Crosse, 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)
$52,012 5th percentile higher than 5% 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
7,246housing units
7,246
Total Housing Units
6,799
Occupied Units
447
Vacant Units
2.02
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$181,900
Median Home Value
-27% vs state ZIP avg
$966
Median Rent
1966
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
+7.4%
YoY Change (2024)
247
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+147%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 54603 have increased 7.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +147% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.4% | 168 |
| 2021 | +8.9% | 183 |
| 2022 | +16.8% | 214 |
| 2023 | +7.6% | 230 |
| 2024 | +7.4% | 247 |
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 492 business establishments in ZIP 54603, employing approximately 13,406 people with a combined annual payroll of $754,741,000.
492
Businesses
13,406
Employees
$754.7M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 57 | 11.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 55 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 51 | 10.4% |
| Construction | 44 | 8.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 44 | 8.9% |
| Manufacturing | 42 | 8.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 41 | 8.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 36 | 7.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 34 | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 22 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 2.2% |
| Educational services | 11 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 1.0% |
| Information | 4 | 0.8% |
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 54603 vs 54650 →
ZIP 54603 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 54601
La Crosse (54601)
49,282 residents
- 54650
Onalaska (54650)
23,377 residents
- 54603 14,305
La Crosse (54603)
14,305 residents
- 55947 7,513
La Crescent (55947)
7,513 residents
- 55941 969
Hokah (55941)
969 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 54603 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 54603 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 55947
La Crescent (55947)
$88,611 median income
- 54650
Onalaska (54650)
$85,548 median income
- 55941
Hokah (55941)
$72,500 median income
- 54601
La Crosse (54601)
$61,639 median income
- 54603
La Crosse (54603)
$52,012 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 54603 ranks #5 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 54603, 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 (14,305 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in La Crosse County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 54603 in?
ZIP code 54603 (La Crosse) is located in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. La Crosse County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/la-crosse-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 54603?
ZIP code 54603 in La Crosse, WI has a population of 14,305 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 54603?
The median household income in ZIP 54603 is $52,012, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 54603?
The median home value in ZIP 54603 is $181,900, which is 35% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 54603?
The largest racial group in ZIP 54603 is White at 86.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 54603?
ZIP code 54603 has 492 business establishments employing approximately 13,406 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 54603?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 54603 are: Retail trade (57), Accommodation and food services (55), Other services (except public administration) (51). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 54603?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 54603 increased by 7.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 147%. 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 54603?
In ZIP code 54603, 52.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.2% 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 54603?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 54603 is 16.3 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 54603?
In ZIP code 54603, approximately 52.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 54603?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 54603 is 16.3% 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 54603's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 54603 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where La Crosse, 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.