Fremont, CA · standard
ZIP Code 94538
Alameda County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 61,148
- 1,433/sq mi High-density area
- $147,301
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,136,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 54.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fremont pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.
- Top 4%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,433
- people per sq mi
- 45%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 94538 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 94538 (Fremont, CA) rose +12.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 381.9 in 2023 to 430.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 94538 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fremont, Alameda County, California, with 61,148 residents across 42.7 square miles, a density of 1,433 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 94538 skews affluent, with a median household income of $147,301 (45% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $63,191. The poverty rate is 5.5%, with unemployment at 4.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $1,136,600 (47% above the average California ZIP), with only 44.7% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $2,860.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 54.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.7, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Alameda County, so 94538 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 94538
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fremont, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 94538.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
458 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
401 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
264 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
261 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
251 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 94538, Fremont, CA · 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
61,148
Population
42.7
Area (sq mi)
1,433
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 94538?
36.7
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
51.8%
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?
$147,301
Median Household Income
+45% vs state ZIP avg
$63,191
Per Capita Income
5.5%
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Unemployment Rate
29.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 94538 ranks nationally
Fremont, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$147,301 Top 4% higher than 96% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
24,854housing units
24,854
Total Housing Units
23,628
Occupied Units
1,226
Vacant Units
2.82
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,136,600
Median Home Value
+47% vs state ZIP avg
$2,860
Median Rent
1979
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
+12.8%
YoY Change (2024)
431
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+331%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 94538 have increased 12.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +331% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.2% | 281 |
| 2021 | +7.5% | 302 |
| 2022 | +10.7% | 334 |
| 2023 | +14.3% | 382 |
| 2024 | +12.8% | 431 |
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 2,749 business establishments in ZIP 94538, employing approximately 93,523 people with a combined annual payroll of $14,386,099,000.
2,749
Businesses
93,523
Employees
$14.4B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 458 | 16.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 401 | 14.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 264 | 9.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 261 | 9.5% |
| Retail trade | 251 | 9.1% |
| Manufacturing | 197 | 7.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 176 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 158 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 122 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 105 | 3.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 104 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 94 | 3.4% |
| Information | 55 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 53 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 27 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 19 | 0.7% |
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 94538 vs 94539 →
ZIP 94538 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 94587
Union City (94587)
69,516 residents
- 94536
Fremont (94536)
68,790 residents
- 95035
Milpitas (95035)
66,943 residents
- 94538
Fremont (94538)
61,148 residents
- 94539
Fremont (94539)
50,031 residents
- 94560
Newark (94560)
42,573 residents
- 94555
Fremont (94555)
34,143 residents
- 95054 23,364
Santa Clara (95054)
23,364 residents
- 94089 19,245
Sunnyvale (94089)
19,245 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 94538 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 94538 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 94539
Fremont (94539)
$243,552 median income
- 94555
Fremont (94555)
$219,938 median income
- 95054
Santa Clara (95054)
$207,895 median income
- 95134
San Jose (95134)
$203,649 median income
- 95035
Milpitas (95035)
$178,654 median income
- 94560
Newark (94560)
$169,064 median income
- 94536
Fremont (94536)
$167,662 median income
- 94089
Sunnyvale (94089)
$158,304 median income
- 94538
Fremont (94538)
$147,301 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 94538 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94539 | Fremont, CA | 50,031 | 2.9 mi |
| 94560 | Newark, CA | 42,573 | 3.8 mi |
| 94536 | Fremont, CA | 68,790 | 4.7 mi |
| 95134 | San Jose, CA | 15,268 | 5.5 mi |
| 95002 | Alviso, CA | 2,077 | 5.0 mi |
| 95054 | Santa Clara, CA | 23,364 | 7.8 mi |
| 94089 | Sunnyvale, CA | 19,245 | 7.1 mi |
| 95035 | Milpitas, CA | 66,943 | 6.5 mi |
| 94587 | Union City, CA | 69,516 | 7.3 mi |
| 94555 | Fremont, CA | 34,143 | 7.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 94538, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (61,148 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Alameda County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 94538 in?
ZIP code 94538 (Fremont) is located in Alameda County, California. Alameda County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/alameda-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 94538?
ZIP code 94538 in Fremont, CA has a population of 61,148 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 94538?
The median household income in ZIP 94538 is $147,301, which is 93% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 94538?
The median home value in ZIP 94538 is $1,136,600, which is 309% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 94538?
The largest racial group in ZIP 94538 is Asian at 58.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 18.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 94538?
ZIP code 94538 has 2,749 business establishments employing approximately 93,523 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 94538?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 94538 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (458), Health care and social assistance (401), Accommodation and food services (264). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 94538?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 94538 increased by 12.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 331%. 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 94538?
In ZIP code 94538, 71.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 54.8% 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 94538?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 94538 is 29.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 94538?
In ZIP code 94538, approximately 44.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 94538?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 94538 is 5.5% 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 94538's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 94538 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Fremont, CA 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.