Shell Lake, WI · standard
ZIP Code 54871
Washburn County, Wisconsin - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,105
- 11/sq mi Low-density area
- $69,342
- Median income Near-median income area
- $241,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Shell Lake pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 46th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 45%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 11
- people per sq mi
- 85%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 54871 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 54871 covers 287.5 square miles in Shell Lake, Washburn County, Wisconsin (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,105 residents on file, a density of 11 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 54871 reports a modest median household income of $69,342 (11% below the average Wisconsin ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,648. The poverty rate is 8.3%, with unemployment at 1.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $241,000 (3% below the average Wisconsin ZIP) and median rent is $644; 84.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Washburn County, so 54871 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 54871
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Shell Lake, WI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 54871.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
13 establishments
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
9 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
9 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
7 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 54871, Shell Lake, 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
3,105
Population
287.5
Area (sq mi)
11
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 54871?
46.0
Median Age
46.5%
Male
53.5%
Female
3.6%
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?
$69,342
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$38,648
Per Capita Income
8.3%
Poverty Rate
1.8%
Unemployment Rate
21.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 54871 ranks among Wisconsin ZIPs
Shell Lake, 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)
$69,342 33rd percentile higher than 33% 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
1,914housing units
1,914
Total Housing Units
1,302
Occupied Units
612
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$241,000
Median Home Value
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$644
Median Rent
1978
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
+32.7%
YoY Change (2024)
279
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+179%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 54871 have increased 32.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +179% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +11.8% | 155 |
| 2020 | +0.1% | 155 |
| 2021 | +10.8% | 172 |
| 2022 | +32.7% | 229 |
| 2024 | – | 279 |
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 76 business establishments in ZIP 54871, employing approximately 775 people with a combined annual payroll of $31,093,000.
76
Businesses
775
Employees
$31.1M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 13 | 17.1% |
| Construction | 10 | 13.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 9 | 11.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 9 | 11.8% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 9.2% |
| Retail trade | 7 | 9.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 5.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 4.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 4.0% |
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 54871 vs 54813 →
ZIP 54871 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 54801
Spooner (54801)
6,493 residents
- 54871
Shell Lake (54871)
3,105 residents
- 54813 601
Barronett (54813)
601 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 54871 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 54871 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 54813
Barronett (54813)
$71,193 median income
- 54871
Shell Lake (54871)
$69,342 median income
- 54801
Spooner (54801)
$62,625 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 54871 ranks #2 of 3 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 54871, 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 (3,105 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Washburn County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 54871 in?
ZIP code 54871 (Shell Lake) is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin. Washburn County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/washburn-wi.
What is the population of ZIP code 54871?
ZIP code 54871 in Shell Lake, WI has a population of 3,105 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 54871?
The median household income in ZIP 54871 is $69,342, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 54871?
The median home value in ZIP 54871 is $241,000, which is 13% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 54871?
The largest racial group in ZIP 54871 is White at 91.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 54871?
ZIP code 54871 has 76 business establishments employing approximately 775 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 54871?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 54871 are: Health care and social assistance (13), Construction (10), Accommodation and food services (9). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 54871?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 54871 increased by 32.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 179%. 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 54871?
In ZIP code 54871, 59.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.6% 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 54871?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 54871 is 21.4 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 54871?
In ZIP code 54871, approximately 84.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 54871?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 54871 is 8.3% 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 54871's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 54871 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Shell Lake, 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.