54538 ZIP Code — Lac Du Flambeau, WI

Vilas County, Wisconsin

ZIP code 54538 is located in Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, within Vilas County. It covers approximately 105.04 square miles and serves a population of 2,969 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 715.

About ZIP code 54538

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1980s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $274,100. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 70%.

Median household income is $48,305. Poverty affects 23% of residents, above the national average. 41% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 16 minutes is near the national average. Remote work is prevalent — 29% of workers work from home.

Educational attainment is near the national average, with 26% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (24%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 54538 reflects a community defined by economic challenges above the national average, a high rate of remote workers, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

2,969

population

105.04

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

54538 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 54538

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 54538. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Lac Du Flambeau	Acceptable
Lac Du Flambeau	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

54548 Minocqua (4.9 mi) 54568 Woodruff (10.4 mi) 54512 Boulder Junction (14 mi) 54545 Manitowish Waters (14.6 mi) 54531 Hazelhurst (15.1 mi) 54539 Lake Tomahawk (18.6 mi) 54560 Sayner (18.9 mi) 54558 Saint Germain (19.5 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	2,969
Population density	28 / sq mi
State FIPS	55
County FIPS	125

Geography
Land area	105.04 sq mi
Water area	24.27 sq mi
Latitude	45.9282
Longitude	-89.9074
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	715

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	66.3%	49.0%	39.4%
$50k – $100k	24.0%	32.3%	33.0%
$100k – $200k	6.7%	14.4%	22.4%
Over $200k	3.0%	4.3%	5.2%

Demographics & statistics

2,969

Population

People per sq mi

44.1

Median age

$48,305

Median household income

$28,905

Per capita income

$274,100

Median home value

$526

Median monthly rent

70.1%

Home ownership

23.2%

Poverty rate

9.4%

Unemployment

2,420

Housing units

25.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

124

5–9

101

121

10–14

15–19

20–24

181

25–34

148

174

35–44

142

116

45–54

116

55–59

124

60–64

101

278

65–74

228

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	707	23.8%
18 and over	2,262	76.2%
65 and over	781	26.3%
Median age	44.1 years

Race & ethnicity

American Indian / Alaska Native 59.6%

White 35.8%

Two or more races 1.3%

Hispanic or Latino 1.3%

Asian 1.2%

Other race 0.5%

Black or African American 0.3%

Group	Count	%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1,792	59.6%
White	1,076	35.8%
Two or more races	40	1.3%
Hispanic or Latino	39	1.3%
Asian	36	1.2%
Other race	15	0.5%
Black or African American	10	0.3%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	66.3%	49.0%	39.4%
$50k – $100k	24.0%	32.3%	33.0%
$100k – $200k	6.7%	14.4%	22.4%
Over $200k	3.0%	4.3%	5.2%

Under $10k 7.8%

$10k–$15k 4.9%

$15k–$25k 8.0%

$25k–$35k 15.3%

$35k–$50k 17.2%

$50k–$75k 16.1%

$75k–$100k 12.9%

$100k–$150k 10.9%

$150k–$200k 2.7%

$200k+ 4.1%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	7.8%
$10k–$15k	4.9%
$15k–$25k	8.0%
$25k–$35k	15.3%
$35k–$50k	17.2%
$50k–$75k	16.1%
$75k–$100k	12.9%
$100k–$150k	10.9%
$150k–$200k	2.7%
$200k+	4.1%
Median income	$48,305

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 0.4%

$50k–$100k 22.9%

$100k–$150k 12.0%

$150k–$200k 2.3%

$200k–$300k 17.2%

$300k–$500k 26.9%

$500k–$1M 16.1%

$1M+ 2.0%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$274,100
Median rent / month	$526
Owner occupied	70.1%
Renter occupied	29.9%
Vacant	54.3%
Single-family detached	94.0%
Large apartment buildings	0.4%
Mobile homes	1.1%
Median rooms	5.0
Avg household size (owned)	2.18

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.2%
2010–2019	2.8%
2000–2009	15.1%
1990–1999	14.6%
1980–1989	22.0%
1970–1979	18.0%
1960–1969	10.5%
1950–1959	9.0%
1940–1949	4.4%
1939 or earlier	3.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	2.4%
1 bedroom	2.4%
2 bedrooms	36.9%
3 bedrooms	46.5%
4 bedrooms	8.5%
5+ bedrooms	3.3%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	5.7%
1 vehicle	38.6%
2 vehicles	41.3%
3 or more	14.4%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	4.1%
Electricity	5.7%
Propane / LP gas	85.3%
Fuel oil	0.5%
Wood	3.3%
No fuel used	0.2%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	500	39.0%
Cohabiting couple	119	9.3%
Male householder, no spouse	349	27.2%
Female householder, no spouse	314	24.5%
Households with children under 18	239	18.6%
Households with seniors (65+)	552	43.1%
Average household size	2.25

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	34.3%	26.9%
Married	44.0%	40.7%
Separated	0.3%	0.0%
Widowed	8.0%	8.9%
Divorced	13.4%	23.5%

Education

Less than 9th grade 1.4%

Some HS, no diploma 6.0%

HS graduate 34.6%

Some college, no degree 26.3%

Associate's degree 5.9%

Bachelor's degree 15.5%

Graduate / professional 10.2%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	92.6%
Bachelor's or higher	25.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	29	4.2%
Kindergarten	23	3.4%
Elementary school	299	43.7%
High school	235	34.4%
College / grad school	98	14.3%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 28.0%

Arts, food & hospitality 22.3%

Public administration 12.2%

Retail trade 10.4%

Finance & real estate 6.8%

Professional & management 6.8%

Manufacturing 4.4%

Construction 2.9%

Other services 2.7%

Wholesale trade 2.4%

Transportation & utilities 0.9%

Information 0.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	30.8%
Service	35.8%
Sales & office	12.8%
Natural resources & construction	12.3%
Production & transportation	8.3%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	41.3%
Government	53.1%
Self-employed	5.6%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	62.1%
Carpool	4.5%
Public transit	1.7%
Walk	2.2%
Work from home	28.8%
Other means	0.7%
Avg commute (minutes)	16.2

Poverty

All people 23.2%

Under 18 years 44.0%

18 and over 16.9%

Married-couple families 2.0%

Female-led households 46.3%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	41.4%
Retirement income	24.1%
Supplemental Security	4.5%
Cash public assistance	1.1%
Food stamps / SNAP	14.2%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	40.0%
High blood pressure	36.8%
High cholesterol	37.5%
Diabetes	13.5%
Heart disease	7.9%
Stroke	4.1%
Asthma	11.8%
Arthritis	27.8%
Kidney disease	3.7%
Pulmonary disease	7.9%
Cancer	7.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	23.7%
Binge drinking	22.1%
No physical activity	24.0%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	32.6%
Depression	20.8%
Fair or poor health	17.3%
Poor mental health	15.7%
Poor physical health	12.9%
No health insurance	10.4%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.5%
Visited dentist	64.5%
Cholesterol screening	87.7%
Teeth loss	14.9%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	212	9.4%

Disability	%
Any disability	15.0%
Under 18	8.9%
18–64 years	13.4%
65 and over	23.6%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	47.1%
Public insurance	56.2%
No insurance	13.7%
Uninsured under 19	4.8%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	2,803	94.4%
Spanish	3	0.1%
Other Indo-European	3	0.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	2,944	99.2%
Born in same state	2,943	99.1%
Born in different state	2,288	77.1%
Foreign born	1	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	25	0.8%
Not a US citizen	17	68.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
French	141	4.7%
Polish	87	2.9%
Italian	83	2.8%
German	25	0.8%
Irish	21	0.7%

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	18	0.6%
English	4	0.1%
Norwegian	3	0.1%
Dutch	3	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	43.2%
Internet access	94.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 54538

What city is ZIP code 54538 in?

ZIP code 54538 is primarily assigned to Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin.

What county is ZIP code 54538 in?

ZIP code 54538 falls within Vilas County, Wisconsin.

Does ZIP code 54538 have an older population?

26% of residents in ZIP code 54538 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 54538?

23% of residents in ZIP code 54538 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 54538 have a large retiree population?

41% of households in ZIP code 54538 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

Does ZIP code 54538 have a large veteran population?

9% of civilians in ZIP code 54538 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

What timezone is ZIP code 54538 in?

ZIP code 54538 observes the CST timezone.