US5.com
  1. Home
  2. States
  3. Wisconsin
  4. ZIP 54501
Rhinelander city, WI

ZIP Code 54501 — Rhinelander city, WI Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
21,096
Median Income
$68,602
-9% vs US avg
Home Value
$194,900
-44% vs US avg
Median Rent
$657
-44% vs US avg
Median Age
47.5 yrs
+22% vs US avg
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
GermanIrishPolish
Scroll to load map
Location
Coordinates
45.6576, -89.3492
Elevation
1,586 ft
Land Area
365.6 sq mi
Water Area
25.5 sq mi (7% water)

At a glance

Population
21,096
Density
N/A
Median income
$68,602
-9% vs US avg
Home value
$194,900
-44% vs US avg
Median rent
$657
-44% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 54501

7-day weather forecast

Loading live forecast…

Sunrise, sunset & moon

Loading outdoor timing for Rhinelander city, WI (ZIP 54501)

What to know about ZIP 54501

ZIP code 54501 covers Rhinelander, WI in Oneida County with a population of about 21,096.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 47.5 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 534, 715; U.S. House district WI-7; the WAUSAU - RHINELANDER media market.

Income and economy in Rhinelander, WI

Median household income in ZIP 54501 is about $68,602 — about 9% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 8.6%; unemployment rate near 2.4%; 25.9% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 7.8 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Retail trade; about 8.0% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 7.2 points below the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 54501

Median home value is about $194,900 — about 44% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $657 (about 44% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 83.0% (about 17.6 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 54501 in Rhinelander, WI, a household would need roughly $54,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,252. That sits below the local median household income ($68,602), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Rhinelander city, WI as Relatively Low (composite score 62.5), which is near the middle of the national distribution. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (61.1) and wildfire (27.2). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Rhinelander city, WI show little to no average snow and around 32.5 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 1,231 for ZIP 54501 (Rhinelander city, WI) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport RHI (6.0 miles (9.7 km)) · Nicolet Area Technical College (4.9 miles (8.0 km)) · North Country National Scenic Trail (84.5 miles (136.1 km)) · VA: Rhinelander Clinic (2.6 miles (4.2 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.