Zip code 54871: Shell Lake, Wisconsin

Q: What city is zip code 54871?

54871 is assigned to Shell Lake, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 54871 in?

54871 is mostly in Washburn County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 54871?

About 3,270 people live in 54871, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 54871?

The median household income in 54871 is $69,342.

Q: What zip codes are near 54871?

The closest zip codes to 54871 are 54813, 54845, 54801, 54870, 54829.

Residential delivery areaWashburn CountyCentral Time

Population

3,270

Median household income

$69K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$241K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$644/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

116 sq mi

28 people/sq mi

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

About 54871

54871 is a rural zip code in Shell Lake, Wisconsin (Washburn County), covering 116 sq mi of land. About 3,270 people live here, or 28 per square mile. The median resident is 46 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $69,342 a year, 14% below the national median of $80,734. 8.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $241,000, or 3.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 85% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $644 a month.

30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.4 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and office and administrative support.

How 54871 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy32%
98th
U.S. 10.1% · WI 10.8%128th of 759 in WI
Residents 65 and older26.1%
93rd
U.S. 17.2% · WI 18.5%159th of 762 in WI
Median age46
89th
U.S. 38.9 · WI 40.2302nd of 761 in WI
Homeownership rate84.6%
88th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WI 67.8%278th of 759 in WI
Self-employed workers14%
87th
U.S. 10% · WI 8.5%198th of 759 in WI
Government workers19.3%
82nd
U.S. 14.5% · WI 12.9%85th of 759 in WI
Veterans8.4%
81st
U.S. 6.2% · WI 6.2%206th of 762 in WI
Income inequality (Gini)0.462
71st
U.S. 0.483 · WI 0.44482nd of 758 in WI
Healthcare workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 9.7% · WI 10.1%261st of 759 in WI
Tech workers3%
52nd
U.S. 3.8% · WI 3.3%162nd of 759 in WI
Per capita income$38,648
46th
U.S. $44,673 · WI $43,373426th of 761 in WI
Bachelor's degree or higher29.6%
45th
U.S. 35.7% · WI 33.4%213th of 762 in WI
Residents under 1821.3%
43rd
U.S. 22% · WI 21.4%350th of 762 in WI
Work from home10.6%
38th
U.S. 15.1% · WI 13.1%424th of 759 in WI
Median household income$69,342
35th
U.S. $80,734 · WI $77,485503rd of 753 in WI
Poverty rate8.3%
34th
U.S. 12.5% · WI 10.6%393rd of 759 in WI
Median home value$241,000
31st
U.S. $332,700 · WI $266,500337th of 753 in WI
Median earnings per worker$40,893
24th
U.S. $49,666 · WI $49,690659th of 758 in WI
Broadband access87.7%
22nd
U.S. 91% · WI 90.3%441st of 759 in WI
Uninsured rate4%
22nd
U.S. 8.4% · WI 5.2%446th of 759 in WI
Foreign-born residents3.6%
22nd
U.S. 14.1% · WI 5.2%192nd of 762 in WI
Average commute21.4 min
20th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · WI 22.2 min560th of 753 in WI
Diversity index16.4
9th
U.S. 61.4 · WI 37.1396th of 762 in WI
Rent-burdened renters33.3%
7th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · WI 43.7%464th of 751 in WI
Population3,270
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WI 5,914,872362nd of 762 in WI
Population density28/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WI 109/sq mi549th of 762 in WI
Unemployment rate1.8%
4th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WI 3.2%556th of 759 in WI
Median gross rent$644
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · WI $1,087665th of 706 in WI

Measure	54871	Washburn	WI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WI
Housing vacancy	32%	41.1%	10.8%	10.1%	98th	128th of 759
Residents 65 and older	26.1%	28.1%	18.5%	17.2%	93rd	159th of 762
Median age	46	52.7	40.2	38.9	89th	302nd of 761
Homeownership rateStrength	84.6%	82.2%	67.8%	65.2%	88th	278th of 759
Self-employed workers	14%	12.9%	8.5%	10%	87th	198th of 759
Government workers	19.3%	13.7%	12.9%	14.5%	82nd	85th of 759
Veterans	8.4%	8.6%	6.2%	6.2%	81st	206th of 762
Income inequality (Gini)	0.462	0.447	0.444	0.483	71st	82nd of 758
Healthcare workers	10.3%	8.6%	10.1%	9.7%	62nd	261st of 759
Tech workers	3%	1.5%	3.3%	3.8%	52nd	162nd of 759
Per capita income	$38,648	$38,951	$43,373	$44,673	46th	426th of 761
Bachelor's degree or higher	29.6%	25.5%	33.4%	35.7%	45th	213th of 762
Residents under 18	21.3%	18%	21.4%	22%	43rd	350th of 762
Work from home	10.6%	12.6%	13.1%	15.1%	38th	424th of 759
Median household income	$69,342	$63,441	$77,485	$80,734	35th	503rd of 753
Poverty rate	8.3%	11.5%	10.6%	12.5%	34th	393rd of 759
Median home value	$241,000	$226,100	$266,500	$332,700	31st	337th of 753
Median earnings per worker	$40,893	$42,784	$49,690	$49,666	24th	659th of 758
Broadband access	87.7%	86.8%	90.3%	91%	22nd	441st of 759
Uninsured rate	4%	5.3%	5.2%	8.4%	22nd	446th of 759
Foreign-born residents	3.6%	1.5%	5.2%	14.1%	22nd	192nd of 762
Average commuteStrength	21.4 min	22.9 min	22.2 min	26.4 min	20th	560th of 753
Diversity index	16.4	14.4	37.1	61.4	9th	396th of 762
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	33.3%	49.2%	43.7%	51.1%	7th	464th of 751
Population	3,270	16,854	5,914,872	334,922,499	5th	362nd of 762
Population density	28/sq mi	21/sq mi	109/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	549th of 762
Unemployment rateStrength	1.8%	3.9%	3.2%	5.2%	4th	556th of 759
Median gross rent	$644	$795	$1,087	$1,413	2nd	665th of 706

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

18%

5–17

18–24

25–34

13%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

17%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

21.3%

65 and over

26.1%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black0.4%
Hispanic2%
Asian0.8%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

16.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

62.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

0.8%

Other

Households

Households: 1,302
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 65.2%
Married couples: 54%
Living alone: 29.6%
Veterans (of adults): 8.4%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

54871

$69,342

Washburn Co.

$63,441

Wisconsin

$77,485

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$38,648

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

15.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.462

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

54871

$241,000

Washburn Co.

$226,100

Wisconsin

$266,500

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

54871

$644

Washburn Co.

$795

Wisconsin

$1,087

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

89%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.3%

Housing units: 1,914
Owner-occupied: 84.6%
Vacant: 32%
Median year built: 1978
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 33.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.4%
Home value to income: 3.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.6%

Worked from home

11%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

23%

10–19

32%

20–29

18%

30–44

16%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Construction and repair

12%

Office and admin

11%

Healthcare

10%

Sales

Business and finance

Production

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Food service

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.1%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

18%

Manufacturing

14%

Education

Retail

Public administration

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Information

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Median earnings per worker

$40,893

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	54871	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$64,167	$74,888
Service	$21,136	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,500	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$46,958	$49,199
Production and transportation	$33,750	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

30%

Some college

22%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

21%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 93.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
Households with broadband: 87.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 60.9%
No internet access: 7.5%
Without health insurance: 4%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Shell Lake
State: Wisconsin
County: Washburn County
Center point: 45.7496° N, 92.0020° W
Land area: 116 sq mi
Water area: 7.2 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

54871 spans 2 counties

Washburn County58% of land
Burnett County42% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Shell Lake5% of zip

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

Zip codes near 54871

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
54813	Barronett, WI	6.4 mi	678	$71,193	$225,000
54845	Hertel, WI	7.8 mi	103	$49,464	$114,600
54801	Spooner, WI	8.5 mi	6,266	$62,625	$216,500
54870	Sarona, WI	11 mi	1,698	$67,063	$296,100
54829	Cumberland, WI	13 mi	5,446	$66,538	$245,800
54841	Haugen, WI	15 mi	284	$76,250	$144,200
54888	Trego, WI	17 mi	1,381	$63,971	$240,500
54837	Frederic, WI	18 mi	3,803	$71,010	$222,300
54893	Webster, WI	18 mi	4,207	$56,129	$234,200
54872	Siren, WI	19 mi	2,569	$60,787	$233,200
54818	Brill, WI · PO box	19 mi	—	—	—
54826	Comstock, WI	19 mi	922	$94,750	$266,700

Zip codes like 54871 elsewhere

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

Middlebury Center, PA

Questions about 54871

What city is zip code 54871?

54871 is assigned to Shell Lake, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 54871 in?

54871 is mostly in Washburn County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 54871?

About 3,270 people live in 54871, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 54871 in?

54871 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 54871?

The median household income in 54871 is $69,342.

What zip codes are near 54871?

The closest zip codes to 54871 are 54813, 54845, 54801, 54870, 54829.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 54871, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.