Zip code 53538: Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

Q: What city is zip code 53538?

53538 is assigned to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 53538 in?

53538 is mostly in Jefferson County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 53538?

About 18,813 people live in 53538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 53538?

The median household income in 53538 is $82,783.

Q: What zip codes are near 53538?

The closest zip codes to 53538 are 53549, 53563, 53523, 53190, 53534.

Residential delivery areaJefferson CountyCentral Time

Population

18,813

Median household income

$83K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$246K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$955/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

97 sq mi

194 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 53538

53538 is a small-town zip code in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin (Jefferson County), covering 97 sq mi of land. About 18,813 people live here, or 194 per square mile. The median resident is 44.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $82,783 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $245,900, or 3.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $955 a month.

27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.3 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; office and administrative support; and food service.

How 53538 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age44.6
84th
U.S. 38.9 · WI 40.2353rd of 761 in WI
Residents 65 and older19.6%
71st
U.S. 17.2% · WI 18.5%423rd of 762 in WI
Homeownership rate74.3%
65th
U.S. 65.2% · WI 67.8%551st of 759 in WI
Median household income$82,783
54th
U.S. $80,734 · WI $77,485271st of 753 in WI
Per capita income$41,516
54th
U.S. $44,673 · WI $43,373307th of 761 in WI
Median earnings per worker$48,427
51st
U.S. $49,666 · WI $49,690363rd of 758 in WI
Uninsured rate6.3%
45th
U.S. 8.4% · WI 5.2%228th of 759 in WI
Self-employed workers8.7%
42nd
U.S. 10% · WI 8.5%502nd of 759 in WI
Veterans5.2%
41st
U.S. 6.2% · WI 6.2%596th of 762 in WI
Government workers12.6%
41st
U.S. 14.5% · WI 12.9%353rd of 759 in WI
Broadband access90.9%
40th
U.S. 91% · WI 90.3%257th of 759 in WI
Bachelor's degree or higher26.6%
38th
U.S. 35.7% · WI 33.4%288th of 762 in WI
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · WI 3.3%264th of 759 in WI
Residents under 1820.4%
35th
U.S. 22% · WI 21.4%405th of 762 in WI
Work from home10%
34th
U.S. 15.1% · WI 13.1%460th of 759 in WI
Foreign-born residents6.1%
34th
U.S. 14.1% · WI 5.2%91st of 762 in WI
Median home value$245,900
32nd
U.S. $332,700 · WI $266,500314th of 753 in WI
Housing vacancy4.9%
32nd
U.S. 10.1% · WI 10.8%552nd of 759 in WI
Unemployment rate3.8%
30th
U.S. 5.2% · WI 3.2%191st of 759 in WI
Population18,813
29th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WI 5,914,872117th of 762 in WI
Income inequality (Gini)0.404
24th
U.S. 0.483 · WI 0.444370th of 758 in WI
Poverty rate6.7%
23rd
U.S. 12.5% · WI 10.6%492nd of 759 in WI
Population density194/sq mi
20th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WI 109/sq mi214th of 762 in WI
Diversity index26.9
20th
U.S. 61.4 · WI 37.1172nd of 762 in WI
Healthcare workers7.3%
19th
U.S. 9.7% · WI 10.1%562nd of 759 in WI
Median gross rent$955
18th
U.S. $1,413 · WI $1,087299th of 706 in WI
Rent-burdened renters41.2%
18th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · WI 43.7%284th of 751 in WI
Average commute20.3 min
14th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WI 22.2 min614th of 753 in WI

Measure	53538	Jefferson	WI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WI
Median age	44.6	41.5	40.2	38.9	84th	353rd of 761
Residents 65 and older	19.6%	18.5%	18.5%	17.2%	71st	423rd of 762
Homeownership rate	74.3%	73.1%	67.8%	65.2%	65th	551st of 759
Median household income	$82,783	$83,750	$77,485	$80,734	54th	271st of 753
Per capita income	$41,516	$41,881	$43,373	$44,673	54th	307th of 761
Median earnings per worker	$48,427	$47,732	$49,690	$49,666	51st	363rd of 758
Uninsured rate	6.3%	4.8%	5.2%	8.4%	45th	228th of 759
Self-employed workers	8.7%	8.3%	8.5%	10%	42nd	502nd of 759
Veterans	5.2%	6.4%	6.2%	6.2%	41st	596th of 762
Government workers	12.6%	13.3%	12.9%	14.5%	41st	353rd of 759
Broadband access	90.9%	90.6%	90.3%	91%	40th	257th of 759
Bachelor's degree or higher	26.6%	28.5%	33.4%	35.7%	38th	288th of 762
Tech workers	2.2%	2.5%	3.3%	3.8%	37th	264th of 759
Residents under 18	20.4%	19.7%	21.4%	22%	35th	405th of 762
Work from home	10%	10.5%	13.1%	15.1%	34th	460th of 759
Foreign-born residents	6.1%	3.7%	5.2%	14.1%	34th	91st of 762
Median home value	$245,900	$274,100	$266,500	$332,700	32nd	314th of 753
Housing vacancy	4.9%	5.5%	10.8%	10.1%	32nd	552nd of 759
Unemployment rate	3.8%	3.6%	3.2%	5.2%	30th	191st of 759
Population	18,813	86,003	5,914,872	334,922,499	29th	117th of 762
Income inequality (Gini)	0.404	0.403	0.444	0.483	24th	370th of 758
Poverty rate	6.7%	8.1%	10.6%	12.5%	23rd	492nd of 759
Population density	194/sq mi	155/sq mi	109/sq mi	95/sq mi	20th	214th of 762
Diversity index	26.9	23.6	37.1	61.4	20th	172nd of 762
Healthcare workers	7.3%	7.8%	10.1%	9.7%	19th	562nd of 759
Median gross rent	$955	$1,035	$1,087	$1,413	18th	299th of 706
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.2%	38.9%	43.7%	51.1%	18th	284th of 751
Average commuteStrength	20.3 min	24.8 min	22.2 min	26.4 min	14th	614th of 753

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

16%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

12%

35–44

13%

45–54

17%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

44.6

Under 18

20.4%

65 and over

19.6%

Race and ethnicity

White85%
Black0.8%
Hispanic12%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

26.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

91%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 7,960
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 62.2%
Married couples: 50.6%
Living alone: 31.2%
Veterans (of adults): 5.2%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

11%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

23%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

53538

$82,783

Jefferson Co.

$83,750

Wisconsin

$77,485

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$41,516

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

6.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.404

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

53538

$245,900

Jefferson Co.

$274,100

Wisconsin

$266,500

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

53538

$955

Jefferson Co.

$1,035

Wisconsin

$1,087

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.2%

Housing units: 8,373
Owner-occupied: 74.3%
Vacant: 4.9%
Median year built: 1970
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.2%
Home value to income: 3.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

Transit

0.6%

Walked

Bicycle

0.4%

Worked from home

10%

Other

0.6%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

33%

10–19

25%

20–29

13%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Office and admin

10%

Food service

10%

Transportation and moving

Production

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Sales

Education

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Industries

Manufacturing

16%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

10%

Education

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Public administration

Information

Other services

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$48,427

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	53538	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$62,516	$74,888
Service	$31,707	$26,804
Sales and office	$43,897	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$56,575	$49,199
Production and transportation	$46,218	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

35%

Some college

18%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 90.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 26.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.7%
Households with broadband: 90.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 69.9%
No internet access: 7.3%
Without health insurance: 6.3%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Fort Atkinson
State: Wisconsin
County: Jefferson County
Center point: 42.9089° N, 88.8716° W
Land area: 97 sq mi
Water area: 17 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

53538 spans 2 counties

Jefferson County98% of land
Rock County2% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Lake Koshkonong (unincorporated)12% of zip
Fort Atkinson6% of zip
Hebron (unincorporated)3% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 53538

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
53549	Jefferson, WI	7.5 mi	9,873	$80,101	$262,200
53563	Milton, WI	9.4 mi	11,280	$89,528	$293,800
53523	Cambridge, WI	9.5 mi	5,074	$102,188	$345,300
53190	Whitewater, WI	9.8 mi	20,499	$66,069	$265,100
53534	Edgerton, WI	12 mi	12,241	$89,045	$294,900
53551	Lake Mills, WI	12 mi	9,731	$94,401	$357,400
53137	Helenville, WI	12 mi	1,650	$116,550	$366,200
53038	Johnson Creek, WI	13 mi	4,192	$96,127	$327,400
53156	Palmyra, WI	14 mi	3,232	$85,313	$238,200
53545	Janesville, WI	15 mi	24,703	$73,889	$220,700
53547	Janesville, WI · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
53531	Deerfield, WI	15 mi	4,430	$105,000	$353,300

Zip codes like 53538 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 53538

What city is zip code 53538?

53538 is assigned to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 53538 in?

53538 is mostly in Jefferson County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 53538?

About 18,813 people live in 53538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 53538 in?

53538 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 53538?

The median household income in 53538 is $82,783.

What zip codes are near 53538?

The closest zip codes to 53538 are 53549, 53563, 53523, 53190, 53534.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 53538, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.