PlainZIP

Ladysmith, WI · standard

ZIP Code 54848

Rusk County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

6,141
13/sq mi
$56,736
Median income
$154,100
Median home value
19.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ladysmith pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

24th pct
household income, US ZIPs
27th pct
home value, US ZIPs
13
people per sq mi
68%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 54848 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 54848 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wisconsin, home to 6,141 residents across 483.5 square miles, a density of 13 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 54848 reports a modest median household income of $56,736 (27% below the Wisconsin average), while per-capita income is $34,746. 15.6% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 6.6%. Housing costs here run $154,100 for a typical home value (38% below the state average), with rent averaging $883 a month; 67.6% of homes are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. Beyond these figures, 1 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Rusk County, letting you compare 54848 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 54848

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ladysmith, WI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 54848.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 54848, Ladysmith, 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

6,141

Population

483.5

Area (sq mi)

13

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 54848?

49.5

Median Age

50.9%

Male

49.1%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 92.7%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%

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?

$56,736

Median Household Income

-27% vs state

$34,746

Per Capita Income

15.6%

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Unemployment Rate

20.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 54848 ranks nationally

Ladysmith, WI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$56,736 24th percentile higher than 24% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 63.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,178

Total Housing Units

2,803

Occupied Units

375

Vacant Units

2.03

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.6%
Renter 32.4%

$154,100

Median Home Value

-38% vs state

$883

Median Rent

1974

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

+19.7%

YoY Change (2024)

217

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+117%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 54848 have increased 19.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 -2.0% 118
2020 +6.2% 126
2021 +17.4% 148
2022 +19.7% 177
2024 – 217

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 173 business establishments in ZIP 54848, employing approximately 2,666 people with a combined annual payroll of $106,564,000.

173

Businesses

2,666

Employees

$106.6M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 31 17.9%
Health care and social assistance 30 17.3%
Other services (except public administration) 23 13.3%
Accommodation and food services 20 11.6%
Construction 11 6.4%
Finance and insurance 11 6.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 10 5.8%
Manufacturing 9 5.2%
Transportation and warehousing 7 4.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 2.9%
Information 4 2.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 1.7%
Utilities 3 1.7%

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 54848 vs 54563 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
54563 Tony, WI 720 7.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Rusk County

54819 standard
Bruce, WI
Pop: 2,544
54526 standard
Glen Flora, WI
Pop: 919
54895 standard
Weyerhaeuser, WI
Pop: 910
54530 standard
Hawkins, WI
Pop: 868
54731 standard
Conrath, WI
Pop: 802
54563 standard
Tony, WI
Pop: 720

Related Areas

Rusk County Ladysmith, WI Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 54848 in? ▼
ZIP code 54848 (Ladysmith) is located in Rusk County, Wisconsin. Rusk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/rusk-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 54848? ▼
ZIP code 54848 in Ladysmith, WI has a population of 6,141 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 54848? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 54848 is $56,736, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 54848? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 54848 is $154,100, which is 45% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 54848? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 54848 is White at 92.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 54848? ▼
ZIP code 54848 has 173 business establishments employing approximately 2,666 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 54848? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 54848 are: Retail trade (31), Health care and social assistance (30), Other services (except public administration) (23). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 54848? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 54848 increased by 19.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. 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 54848? ▼
In ZIP code 54848, 63.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.6% 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 54848? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 54848 is 20.5 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 54848? ▼
In ZIP code 54848, approximately 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 54848? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 54848 is 15.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.