Zip code 54981: Waupaca, Wisconsin

Q: What city is zip code 54981?

54981 is assigned to Waupaca, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 54981 in?

54981 is mostly in Waupaca County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 54981?

About 14,870 people live in 54981, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 54981?

The median household income in 54981 is $72,640.

Q: What zip codes are near 54981?

The closest zip codes to 54981 are 54946, 54983, 54977, 54976, 54984.

Residential delivery areaWaupaca CountyCentral Time

Population

14,870

Median household income

$73K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$219K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$830/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

47.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

132 sq mi

113 people/sq mi

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

About 54981

54981 is a small-town zip code in Waupaca, Wisconsin (Waupaca County), covering 132 sq mi of land. About 14,870 people live here, or 113 per square mile. The median resident is 47.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $72,640 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $218,700, or 3.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 77% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $830 a month.

27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.8 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; office and administrative support; and production and manufacturing.

How 54981 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age47.3
91st
U.S. 38.9 · WI 40.2242nd of 761 in WI
Housing vacancy17.7%
91st
U.S. 10.1% · WI 10.8%215th of 759 in WI
Residents 65 and older24.1%
90th
U.S. 17.2% · WI 18.5%212th of 762 in WI
Veterans9.5%
87th
U.S. 6.2% · WI 6.2%130th of 762 in WI
Homeownership rate76.5%
70th
U.S. 65.2% · WI 67.8%501st of 759 in WI
Government workers16.7%
70th
U.S. 14.5% · WI 12.9%134th of 759 in WI
Per capita income$42,946
58th
U.S. $44,673 · WI $43,373262nd of 761 in WI
Median earnings per worker$50,570
57th
U.S. $49,666 · WI $49,690261st of 758 in WI
Self-employed workers9.2%
49th
U.S. 10% · WI 8.5%463rd of 759 in WI
Uninsured rate6.6%
48th
U.S. 8.4% · WI 5.2%216th of 759 in WI
Income inequality (Gini)0.425
41st
U.S. 0.483 · WI 0.444228th of 758 in WI
Median household income$72,640
40th
U.S. $80,734 · WI $77,485426th of 753 in WI
Bachelor's degree or higher27.4%
40th
U.S. 35.7% · WI 33.4%269th of 762 in WI
Healthcare workers8.6%
36th
U.S. 9.7% · WI 10.1%444th of 759 in WI
Average commute23.8 min
35th
U.S. 26.4 min · WI 22.2 min420th of 753 in WI
Poverty rate8.2%
33rd
U.S. 12.5% · WI 10.6%397th of 759 in WI
Broadband access89.5%
31st
U.S. 91% · WI 90.3%343rd of 759 in WI
Median home value$218,700
25th
U.S. $332,700 · WI $266,500439th of 753 in WI
Population14,870
23rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WI 5,914,872142nd of 762 in WI
Unemployment rate3.4%
23rd
U.S. 5.2% · WI 3.2%251st of 759 in WI
Residents under 1818.5%
21st
U.S. 22% · WI 21.4%523rd of 762 in WI
Work from home7.5%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · WI 13.1%622nd of 759 in WI
Population density113/sq mi
15th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WI 109/sq mi270th of 762 in WI
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · WI 3.3%501st of 759 in WI
Rent-burdened renters37.5%
12th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · WI 43.7%368th of 751 in WI
Median gross rent$830
9th
U.S. $1,413 · WI $1,087478th of 706 in WI
Foreign-born residents1.2%
7th
U.S. 14.1% · WI 5.2%518th of 762 in WI
Diversity index13.4
6th
U.S. 61.4 · WI 37.1497th of 762 in WI

Measure	54981	Waupaca	WI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WI
Median age	47.3	45.3	40.2	38.9	91st	242nd of 761
Housing vacancy	17.7%	12.5%	10.8%	10.1%	91st	215th of 759
Residents 65 and older	24.1%	21.3%	18.5%	17.2%	90th	212th of 762
Veterans	9.5%	7.6%	6.2%	6.2%	87th	130th of 762
Homeownership rate	76.5%	75.3%	67.8%	65.2%	70th	501st of 759
Government workers	16.7%	12.9%	12.9%	14.5%	70th	134th of 759
Per capita income	$42,946	$41,606	$43,373	$44,673	58th	262nd of 761
Median earnings per worker	$50,570	$50,115	$49,690	$49,666	57th	261st of 758
Self-employed workers	9.2%	9.6%	8.5%	10%	49th	463rd of 759
Uninsured rate	6.6%	5.9%	5.2%	8.4%	48th	216th of 759
Income inequality (Gini)	0.425	0.452	0.444	0.483	41st	228th of 758
Median household income	$72,640	$72,830	$77,485	$80,734	40th	426th of 753
Bachelor's degree or higher	27.4%	20.5%	33.4%	35.7%	40th	269th of 762
Healthcare workers	8.6%	8.1%	10.1%	9.7%	36th	444th of 759
Average commute	23.8 min	24.9 min	22.2 min	26.4 min	35th	420th of 753
Poverty rate	8.2%	10.4%	10.6%	12.5%	33rd	397th of 759
Broadband access	89.5%	86.8%	90.3%	91%	31st	343rd of 759
Median home value	$218,700	$211,400	$266,500	$332,700	25th	439th of 753
Population	14,870	51,569	5,914,872	334,922,499	23rd	142nd of 762
Unemployment rate	3.4%	2.8%	3.2%	5.2%	23rd	251st of 759
Residents under 18	18.5%	20.1%	21.4%	22%	21st	523rd of 762
Work from home	7.5%	7.9%	13.1%	15.1%	19th	622nd of 759
Population density	113/sq mi	69/sq mi	109/sq mi	95/sq mi	15th	270th of 762
Tech workers	1.1%	1.4%	3.3%	3.8%	15th	501st of 759
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	37.5%	45.8%	43.7%	51.1%	12th	368th of 751
Median gross rent	$830	$852	$1,087	$1,413	9th	478th of 706
Foreign-born residents	1.2%	1.3%	5.2%	14.1%	7th	518th of 762
Diversity index	13.4	14.4	37.1	61.4	6th	497th of 762

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

14%

5–17

18–24

25–34

14%

35–44

12%

45–54

17%

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

47.3

Under 18

18.5%

65 and over

24.1%

Race and ethnicity

White93%
Black0.9%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.3%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

13.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

77.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 6,830
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 65.2%
Married couples: 52.4%
Living alone: 29.7%
Veterans (of adults): 9.5%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

12%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

54981

$72,640

Waupaca Co.

$72,830

Wisconsin

$77,485

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$42,946

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.425

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

54981

$218,700

Waupaca Co.

$211,400

Wisconsin

$266,500

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

54981

$830

Waupaca Co.

$852

Wisconsin

$1,087

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.0%

Housing units: 8,295
Owner-occupied: 76.5%
Vacant: 17.7%
Median year built: 1978
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 37.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 13.7%
Home value to income: 3.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

83%

Carpooled

Transit

0.0%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

22%

10–19

38%

20–29

10%

30–44

11%

45–59

10%

60+

Average commute

23.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

12%

Office and admin

11%

Production

10%

Construction and repair

Sales

Healthcare

Management

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Food service

Police and fire

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

0.5%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Industries

Manufacturing

24%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Retail

11%

Education

Construction

Public administration

Admin, support and management

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$50,570

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	54981	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$63,605	$74,888
Service	$29,256	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,086	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$57,930	$49,199
Production and transportation	$50,971	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

39%

Some college

17%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

19%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 95.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.9%
Households with broadband: 89.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 61.5%
No internet access: 9%
Without health insurance: 6.6%
Limited-English households: 0.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Waupaca
State: Wisconsin
County: Waupaca County
Center point: 44.3227° N, 89.1315° W
Land area: 132 sq mi
Water area: 4.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

54981 spans 3 counties

Waupaca County92% of land
Portage County5% of land
Waushara County4% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Waupaca6% of zip
Chain O' Lakes (unincorporated)3% of zip
King (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 54981

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
54946	King, WI	1.2 mi	401	—	—
54983	Weyauwega, WI	9.7 mi	4,144	$71,094	$229,700
54977	Scandinavia, WI	9.8 mi	1,592	$81,328	$249,300
54976	Saxeville, WI · PO box	10 mi	—	—	—
54984	Wild Rose, WI	10 mi	3,394	$64,120	$216,200
54406	Amherst, WI	11 mi	4,040	$77,533	$284,800
54965	Pine River, WI	12 mi	1,212	$60,625	$197,500
54909	Almond, WI	12 mi	1,982	$80,417	$195,800
54962	Ogdensburg, WI	12 mi	1,025	$83,452	$205,500
54990	Iola, WI · PO box	13 mi	—	—	—
54458	Nelsonville, WI	15 mi	133	$57,917	$150,000
54967	Poy Sippi, WI	16 mi	497	$51,555	$188,000

Zip codes like 54981 elsewhere

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

Questions about 54981

What city is zip code 54981?

54981 is assigned to Waupaca, Wisconsin. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 54981 in?

54981 is mostly in Waupaca County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 54981?

About 14,870 people live in 54981, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 54981 in?

54981 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 54981?

The median household income in 54981 is $72,640.

What zip codes are near 54981?

The closest zip codes to 54981 are 54946, 54983, 54977, 54976, 54984.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 54981, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.