Population 16,575 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bayfield County
Household size in Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.12 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.16 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.11 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Bayfield County are small: just 2.23 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.12, even as the national average fell.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.9 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.4 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.1 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Bayfield County skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 47.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only six of Wisconsin's 72 counties are older.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.0% of households in Bayfield County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only four have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Bayfield County
Renters in Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.1% of households in Bayfield County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northeast; owners are most common in the center. The renter share is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.7% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 39.1% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.0% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Bayfield County: 38.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Bayfield County was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in Wisconsin as a whole, where the median home dates to 1974. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $503 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $566 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $690 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $871 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$369 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bayfield County costs $871 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $369 a month from 2006–10, a 73% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 24.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the south.
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 Bayfield County
Bachelor's degrees in Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Bayfield County as nationally: 34.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Bayfield County has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of Wisconsin counties.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.1% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Bayfield County: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Bayfield County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Wisconsin counties.
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 Bayfield County
| Period | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bayfield County runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Bayfield County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield County | 2.23 | 53.1 | 6.0% | 16.1% | 38.0% | 1980 | $871 | 34.5% | 95.9% | 3.6% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Douglas County | 2.27 | 44.0 | 8.2% | 28.1% | 14.5% | 1966 | $1,021 | 28.7% | 94.4% | 3.0% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| St. Louis County | 2.26 | 42.6 | 8.4% | 28.8% | 12.8% | 1962 | $1,197 | 34.2% | 95.0% | 4.9% |
| Carlton County | 2.40 | 41.1 | 10.2% | 20.0% | 10.5% | 1974 | $1,034 | 27.2% | 93.6% | 5.1% |
| Ontonagon County | 1.84 | 58.6 | 4.2% | 12.9% | 37.0% | 1961 | $555 | 18.4% | 94.5% | 5.3% |
| Pine County | 2.31 | 47.0 | 9.0% | 18.4% | 23.7% | 1983 | $1,078 | 17.4% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
| Aitkin County | 2.20 | 55.2 | 5.5% | 14.7% | 44.6% | 1982 | $1,018 | 20.3% | 94.6% | 5.8% |
| Baraga County | 2.10 | 47.2 | 7.7% | 21.5% | 27.2% | 1971 | $617 | 15.3% | 92.0% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Nicholas County, WV · Montezuma County, CO · Montgomery County, AR · Montgomery County, MO · Moore County, TX · Clay County, TN · Morgan County, UT · Mountrail County, ND · Nantucket County, MA · Newton County, IN
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 Bayfield County. 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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