Population 44,229 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Douglas County
Household size in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Douglas County are small: just 2.27 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 crept up from 2.24, 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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.0 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Douglas County skews older than the country: its median age is 44.0, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.2, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.2% of households in Douglas County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.6 points from 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 Douglas County
Renters in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.5% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.1% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Douglas County rent their homes (28.1%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over four in ten owners (41.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.1 points, 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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.5% of the housing in Douglas County, 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.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Douglas County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north. Few Wisconsin counties have older homes: only three of 72.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $656 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $751 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $828 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,021 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$365 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Douglas County costs $1,021 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $365 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Douglas County
Bachelor's degrees in Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.7% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Douglas County (28.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Compared with other Wisconsin counties, though, Douglas County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.1% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Douglas County: 94.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Douglas County
| Period | Douglas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Douglas County has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.2 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).
Douglas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | 2.27 | 44.0 | 8.2% | 28.1% | 14.5% | 1966 | $1,021 | 28.7% | 94.4% | 3.0% |
| Carlton County | 2.40 | 41.1 | 10.2% | 20.0% | 10.5% | 1974 | $1,034 | 27.2% | 93.6% | 5.1% |
| St. Louis County | 2.26 | 42.6 | 8.4% | 28.8% | 12.8% | 1962 | $1,197 | 34.2% | 95.0% | 4.9% |
| Bayfield County | 2.23 | 53.1 | 6.0% | 16.1% | 38.0% | 1980 | $871 | 34.5% | 95.9% | 3.6% |
| Lake County | 2.21 | 49.4 | 8.0% | 16.5% | 25.2% | 1965 | $1,098 | 25.9% | 94.7% | 2.4% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Aitkin County | 2.20 | 55.2 | 5.5% | 14.7% | 44.6% | 1982 | $1,018 | 20.3% | 94.6% | 5.8% |
| 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% |
| Crow Wing County | 2.28 | 46.3 | 8.3% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 1986 | $1,039 | 29.2% | 94.6% | 5.2% |
| Cass County | 2.44 | 48.2 | 8.9% | 13.8% | 38.9% | 1990 | $976 | 25.7% | 94.0% | 6.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Putnam County, OH · Guayama Municipio, PR · Guernsey County, OH · Henry County, IN · Henry County, VA · Hoke County, NC · Humacao Municipio, PR · Jackson County, AL · Jackson County, IL · Ogle County, IL
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 Douglas 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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