How much have home prices risen in ZIP codes starting with 538?

Based on FHFA HPI® data for 3-digit ZIP region 538, the regional index changed +4.9% over the year to Q2 2026, +59.2% over five years, +110% over ten years, and +290% since Q1 1995.

Is ZIP3 538 appreciating faster than Wisconsin and the U.S.?

Over the past year the region's index +4.9% compares with +5.6% for Wisconsin and +3.0% for the U.S., a gap of +1.9 pts versus the nation. Over five years the gap versus the nation is +17.9 pts.

Which ZIP codes are in 3-digit ZIP region 538?

All ZIP codes that begin with 538. Census 2010 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in this region run from 53801 to 53827 (20 areas). FHFA publishes one index for the whole 3-digit region, not for each 5-digit ZIP code.

Can I use this to value my home?

No. The FHFA HPI® is a broad regional index of average price movement. It is not an appraisal, tax assessment, or automated valuation of any individual property. Use it as general context alongside local sales and a professional opinion.

3-digit ZIP regional index

Home appreciation in ZIP codes 538xxPlatteville, WI area

Name: Home price index for 3-digit ZIP region 538 (Platteville, WI area)
Creator: zipappreciation.com
License: https://zipappreciation.com/data-sources

FHFA HPI® data shows the regional home price index for ZIP codes beginning with 538 changed +4.9% over the year to Q2 2026, compared with +5.6% for Wisconsin and +3.0% for the United States.

The region covers ZIP codes 53801–53827. Most of its 2010 population lived in Grant County (78%), Crawford County (17%), Lafayette County (5%). Communities in the region include Prairie du Chien, Lancaster, Boscobel, Fennimore, Cuba City. This is a regional index, not a ZIP5, street, or individual-home estimate.

1-year change: +4.9%
5-year change: +59.2%
Since Q1 1995: +290%
National rank (1 year): 277th

ZIP3 538 vs Wisconsin and the U.S.

FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026

ZIP3 538: 389.7
Wisconsin: 363.5
United States: 391.6

Want a different starting year? Rebase this chart or compare with another ZIP3.

Appreciation by time window

Percent change in the regional index to Q2 2026; gaps are percentage points
Window	ZIP3 538	WI	U.S.	Gap vs WI	Gap vs U.S.
1 year	+4.9%	+5.6%	+3.0%	−0.7 pts	+1.9 pts
3 years	+22.9%	+20.9%	+12.9%	+2.0 pts	+10.0 pts
5 years	+59.2%	+54.0%	+41.3%	+5.2 pts	+17.9 pts
10 years	+110%	+106%	+93.3%	+4.5 pts	+17.0 pts
Since Q1 1995	+290%	+264%	+292%	+26.2 pts	−1.9 pts

FHFA reports this region's index type as "Balance of State": its series comes from FHFA's index for the non-metropolitan part of the state rather than a separately estimated 3-digit ZIP index. Other regions with the same index type in the state show identical values, so rankings can tie.

If you bought in ZIP3 538 in…

Applying the regional index change from the same quarter of each year to Q2 2026 to an example $300,000 purchase price. Individual homes can differ widely from the regional average.

Bought in	Index change	$300,000 then, at the regional rate
Q2 1995	+283%	$1,147,527
Q2 2000	+188%	$864,144
Q2 2005	+115%	$644,558
Q2 2010	+115%	$644,132
Q2 2015	+117%	$650,259
Q2 2020	+77.1%	$531,240
Q2 2021	+59.2%	$477,593
Q2 2023	+22.9%	$368,685
Q2 2025	+4.9%	$314,663

How ZIP3 538 ranks

Over the past year ZIP3 538 ranks 277th of 882 3-digit ZIP regions nationally and 14th of 18 in Wisconsin. Its one-year change is +1.9 pts versus the nation and −0.7 pts versus Wisconsin. Rank 1 is the strongest appreciation.

Window	National rank	Rank in Wisconsin
1 year	277th of 882	14th of 18
3 years	92nd of 882	5th of 18
5 years	56th of 882	5th of 18
10 years	183rd of 882	10th of 18
Since Q1 1995	341st of 879	8th of 18

Fastest-appreciating ZIP codes in Wisconsin National ZIP3 rankings

Boom, bust, and recovery in ZIP3 538

ZIP3 538's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 11.6% to its low in Q1 2014, and regained its peak in Q3 2017, about 9.5 years after the top. Today it sits +99.6% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared

Area	2000s peak	Low point	Peak to low	Back to peak	Today vs peak
ZIP3 538	Q1 2008	Q1 2014	-11.6%	Q3 2017 (9.5 yrs)	+99.6%
WI	Q1 2008	Q1 2014	-11.9%	Q2 2017 (9.2 yrs)	+97.4%
U.S.	Q1 2007	Q2 2012	-19.0%	Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs)	+89.3%

Appreciation after inflation

Adjusting for consumer price inflation, ZIP3 538's index has changed +76.0% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation

Window	Inflation (CPI-U)	ZIP3 538 after inflation	WI after inflation	U.S. after inflation
1 year	+3.9%	+1.0%	+1.7%	-0.8%
3 years	+9.8%	+11.9%	+10.1%	+2.8%
5 years	+24.0%	+28.4%	+24.1%	+13.9%
10 years	+39.1%	+51.2%	+47.9%	+39.0%
Since Q1 1995	+121%	+76.0%	+64.2%	+76.8%

Estimate appreciation for a home in ZIP3 538

Estimate regional appreciation

3-digit ZIP regionStarting value

Start periodEnd period

Regional estimate

$630,889

Estimated gain: $330,889
Index change: +110%
Start index: 185.31
End index: 389.70

ZIP3 538 (Platteville, WI area), Q2 2016 to Q2 2026. Index type: Balance of State.

About this estimate. This calculator is an independent tool that applies the publicly available FHFA House Price Index® (FHFA HPI®) to a value you enter. The FHFA HPI® is a 3-digit ZIP (regional) index that measures average price movement across a broad area - it is not specific to any individual property, and the result is not an appraisal, tax assessment, lender valuation, or guaranteed market value. zipappreciation.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FHFA. Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA HPI® (fhfa.gov).

Nearby 3-digit ZIP regions

3-digit ZIP region	State	1 year	5 years	Since Q1 1995
520 · Dubuque, IA area	IA	+4.3%	+41.4%	+216%
521 · Decorah, IA area	IA	+3.1%	+39.6%	+239%
537 · Madison, WI area	WI	+4.0%	+50.5%	+308%
535 · Janesville, WI area	WI	+5.2%	+50.9%	+256%
546 · La Crosse, WI area	WI	+5.3%	+52.6%	+312%
524 · Cedar Rapids, IA area	IA	+5.7%	+34.8%	+151%

Recent quarterly index values

FHFA HPI® values for ZIP3 538 (original FHFA base, Q1 1995 = 100). Index type: Balance of State.
Period	Index
Q2 2026	389.70
Q1 2026	379.39
Q4 2025	377.65
Q3 2025	373.26
Q2 2025	371.54
Q1 2025	361.72
Q4 2024	354.73
Q3 2024	353.78
Q2 2024	345.48
Q1 2024	334.93
Q4 2023	332.21
Q3 2023	329.41

Frequently asked questions

How much have home prices risen in ZIP codes starting with 538?: Based on FHFA HPI® data for 3-digit ZIP region 538, the regional index changed +4.9% over the year to Q2 2026, +59.2% over five years, +110% over ten years, and +290% since Q1 1995.
Is ZIP3 538 appreciating faster than Wisconsin and the U.S.?: Over the past year the region's index +4.9% compares with +5.6% for Wisconsin and +3.0% for the U.S., a gap of +1.9 pts versus the nation. Over five years the gap versus the nation is +17.9 pts.
Which ZIP codes are in 3-digit ZIP region 538?: All ZIP codes that begin with 538. Census 2010 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in this region run from 53801 to 53827 (20 areas). FHFA publishes one index for the whole 3-digit region, not for each 5-digit ZIP code.
Can I use this to value my home?: No. The FHFA HPI® is a broad regional index of average price movement. It is not an appraisal, tax assessment, or automated valuation of any individual property. Use it as general context alongside local sales and a professional opinion.

Search another region

Region details

ZIP codes: 53801–53827 (20 Census ZCTAs)
State: Wisconsin
Main counties (2010 population share): Grant County, WI 78%; Crawford County, WI 17%; Lafayette County, WI 5%
FHFA index type: Balance of State, all-transactions, NSA
Latest period / imported: Q2 2026 / 2026-09-30
FHFA annual ZIP3 index, 2025: Annual change +5.1%

Methodology note. The site currently uses imported public FHFA HPI® files last processed on 2026-09-30. ZIP pages use the quarterly all-transactions 3-digit ZIP regional index, with latest imported ZIP3 period 2026Q2. State and national context use FHFA master HPI all-transactions quarterly records. ZIP3 results are regional index calculations only.

FHFA 3-digit ZIP data describes a broad regional index. It does not identify a street address, ZIP5, parcel, county assessment record, or individual home value.

FHFA labels its 3-digit ZIP indexes as developmental, and it revises past index values with each quarterly release. Figures on this site are re-imported in full from each new release, so earlier quarters can change slightly from one update to the next.

Place, county, state, and metro labels for 3-digit ZIP regions are approximate. FHFA does not publish them; this site assigns them using U.S. Census Bureau 2010 ZCTA relationship and Gazetteer files and OMB metro area delineations, weighted by population. A region can span many communities and several counties.

Comparison charts rescale each series so the chosen base quarter equals 100 (Q1 1995 by default). Rescaling changes only the starting level; percentage changes between any two quarters are the same as in the original FHFA series.