Population 16,195 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Baraboo
Household size in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Baraboo is a place of small households, averaging 2.20 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.34, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.4 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.4 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Baraboo is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.4, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.6% of households in Baraboo, well below the national share of 11.6%. The Madison area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 6.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Baraboo
Renters in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.6% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Baraboo is about as common as it is nationally: 33.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider Madison area (39.7%). Among homeowners, 31.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Baraboo than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Still, the rate is higher than in the Madison area as a whole (5.5%). Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Baraboo run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $741 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $714 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $798 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $989 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$248 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Baraboo costs $989 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $248 a month from 2006–10, a 33% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Baraboo
Bachelor's degrees in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.1% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Baraboo than nationally: 26.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.7 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.8% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.4% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Baraboo is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in the wider Madison area (95.1%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Baraboo
| Period | Baraboo | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Baraboo has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Baraboo compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo | 2.20 | 43.9 | 8.6% | 33.1% | 7.9% | 1972 | $989 | 26.1% | 93.0% | 2.5% |
| West Baraboo | 2.32 | 38.6 | 11.7% | 34.5% | 10.4% | 1985 | $1,059 | 32.4% | 93.9% | 1.6% |
| LaRue | 2.52 | 38.8 | 10.7% | 18.6% | 6.3% | 1963 | $993 | 16.6% | 91.6% | 1.7% |
| North Freedom | 2.58 | 38.2 | 12.0% | 18.3% | 9.7% | 1962 | $894 | 19.3% | 93.6% | 1.3% |
| Lewiston | 2.51 | 48.6 | 10.8% | 7.3% | 15.3% | 1983 | $900 | 25.8% | 92.8% | 1.8% |
| Merrimac | 2.40 | 47.9 | 7.1% | 11.1% | 25.4% | 1982 | $1,069 | 35.9% | 94.8% | 2.2% |
| Lake Delton | 2.22 | 41.3 | 7.4% | 30.8% | 22.7% | 1993 | $954 | 25.5% | 92.7% | 3.2% |
| Rock Springs | 2.47 | 43.4 | 6.6% | 17.8% | 5.4% | 1972 | $1,140 | 17.0% | 89.8% | 2.5% |
| Okee | 2.35 | 47.9 | 4.1% | 8.2% | 17.5% | 1982 | $1,298 | 35.0% | 98.7% | 0.9% |
| Lake Wisconsin | 2.51 | 50.2 | 1.5% | 6.4% | 12.2% | 1995 | $1,384 | 52.4% | 99.4% | 1.5% |
| Wisconsin Dells | 2.29 | 45.9 | 5.5% | 26.8% | 23.8% | 1982 | $1,055 | 22.0% | 94.3% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Morgan City, LA · Coweta, OK · Cranberry Twp, PA · Norridge, IL · Newtown, CT · Decatur, IN · New Cassel, NY · Discovery Bay, CA · Mount Clemens, MI · Morganville, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Baraboo. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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