Residential delivery area · Wisconsin
ZIP Code 54871: Shell Lake, WI
ZIP code 54871 uses the postal name Shell Lake, Wisconsin and lies mostly in Washburn County (58% of its land) with the rest in Burnett County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 3,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $69,342 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 5% of its land lies in Shell Lake; 95% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Shell Lake · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Washburn County (58%); Burnett County (42%)
- Census places
- Shell Lake
- House district
- WI-7 119th Congress
- State
- Wisconsin
- Time zone
- Central
- Land area
- 115.7 sq mi · 28 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 54871?
54871 centers on 45.750°, -92.002° and covers 115.7 square miles of land plus 7.2 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 54813, 54845, 54801, 54870, 54837, 54893, 54872.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 54871, 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 54871 compare with the rest of Washburn County?
| Measure | 54871 | In Washburn County | In WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,270 | 4th of 11 | 362nd of 783 |
| Median household income | $69k | 3rd of 10 | 438th of 610 |
| Median home value | $241k | 5th of 10 | 303rd of 612 |
Its median household income is higher than in 46% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 32% 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 54871?
The 2020 Census counted 3,300 people in 54871; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 3,270. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 6.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 3,270
- 2020 Census count
- 3,300+6.3% since 2010 (3,105)
- Households
- 1,302
- Median age
- 46.0
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 54871?
Of the 3,270 people the ACS estimates in 54871, 21.3% are under 18 and 26.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (91.3%).
- Under 1821.3%
- 18 to 6452.6%
- 65 and older26.1%
- White, not Hispanic91.3%
- Other or two or more5.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.8%
- Black, not Hispanic0.4%
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 54871 earn?
Median household income is $69,342 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Washburn County. It rose from $54,959 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $69,342±$7,819
- Income per person
- $38,648
- Below the poverty line
- 8.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.8%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 29.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $71,1661,520 returns; wages 55% 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 54871?
FHFA's house price index for 54871, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 100% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 69% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −5.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $241,000
- Median gross rent
- $644
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 84.6%
- Housing units
- 1,914
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 54871?
76 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 10 more than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance13
- Construction10
- Accommodation and food services9
- Other services (except public administration)9
- Manufacturing7
- Retail trade7
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 54871?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54813 | Barronett | 678 | $71k | 6.4 mi |
| 54845 | Hertel | 103 | $50k | 7.8 mi |
| 54801 | Spooner | 6,266 | $63k | 8.5 mi |
| 54870 | Sarona | 1,698 | $67k | 11.3 mi |
| 54837 | Frederic | 3,803 | $71k | 17.9 mi |
| 54893 | Webster | 4,207 | $56k | 18.0 mi |
| 54872 | Siren | 2,569 | $61k | 18.8 mi |
| 54829 | Cumberland | 5,446 | $67k | 13.1 mi (near) |
| 54841 | Haugen | 284 | $76k | 14.6 mi (near) |
| 54888 | Trego | 1,381 | $64k | 16.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.