Population 5,400 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in French Island
Household size in French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in French Island are small: just 2.18 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 dropped from 2.42, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.9 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.4 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.1 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.4, French Island is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 43.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in French Island: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Compared with other Wisconsin cities, French Island has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 French Island
Renters in French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.0% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
French Island is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 39.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 2.8 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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in French Island: just 4.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.8 points, 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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in French Island are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally.
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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $805 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $780 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $836 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,083 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$278 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in French Island costs $1,083 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $278 a month since 2006–10, up 35%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 22.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 French Island
Bachelor's degrees in French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.0% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in French Island (28.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northwest.
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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.7% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.8% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in French Island: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 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 French Island
| Period | French Island | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.2% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in French Island runs well above the national rate: 8.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other Wisconsin city with 5,000+ people has higher unemployment. Unemployment is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
French Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Island | 2.18 | 48.4 | 7.0% | 22.7% | 4.8% | 1978 | $1,083 | 28.0% | 94.8% | 8.6% |
| La Crosse | 2.16 | 36.4 | 9.0% | 49.4% | 7.3% | 1967 | $1,096 | 34.0% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| Onalaska | 2.27 | 42.2 | 7.0% | 31.6% | 4.4% | 1986 | $1,198 | 40.4% | 98.0% | 3.2% |
| La Crescent | 2.27 | 47.9 | 7.6% | 13.7% | 6.8% | 1977 | $859 | 39.6% | 94.4% | 0.9% |
| Shelby | 2.29 | 47.7 | 8.5% | 18.7% | 8.0% | 1991 | $977 | 37.0% | 94.8% | 1.8% |
| Holmen | 2.55 | 41.2 | 7.3% | 28.9% | 3.7% | 1998 | $1,283 | 35.3% | 96.2% | 0.5% |
| West Salem | 2.64 | 42.0 | 6.9% | 19.7% | 7.2% | 1985 | $1,289 | 42.7% | 97.2% | 3.4% |
| Dakota | 2.33 | 48.9 | 3.0% | 6.8% | 12.6% | 1978 | $912 | 33.9% | 95.7% | 3.2% |
| Hokah | 2.27 | 43.1 | 8.3% | 15.8% | 4.4% | 1975 | $897 | 27.7% | 97.1% | 0.4% |
| St. Joseph | 2.67 | 42.9 | 6.8% | 14.1% | 2.8% | 1987 | $1,149 | 31.9% | 95.5% | 1.8% |
| Nodine | 2.28 | 48.9 | 2.3% | 6.2% | 13.3% | 1978 | $910 | 30.1% | 96.0% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Richwood, TX · Riverdale, CA · Chadron, NE · Century, FL · Centerville, TN · Villa Park, CA · Vinton, IA · Ringoes, NJ · Cedarville, OH · Cedar Bluff, VA
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 French Island. 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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