Population 16,942 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lafayette County
Household size in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Lafayette County run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in Wisconsin as a whole, where it has 2.40 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.56, mirroring the country. Only six of Wisconsin's 72 counties have larger households.
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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 40.8, the median age in Lafayette County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 40.2, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the 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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lafayette County: 8.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Lafayette County
Renters in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.8% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lafayette County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 41.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has edged down 1.0 points since 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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Lafayette County: 6.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 2.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Lafayette County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Wisconsin counties.
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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Lafayette County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, 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 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing. Only two of Wisconsin's 72 counties have older homes.
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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $581 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $639 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $704 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $904 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$323 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lafayette County costs $904 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $323 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
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 Lafayette County
Bachelor's degrees in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lafayette County: 22.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.0% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Lafayette County have finished high school (91.0%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in Wisconsin overall (93.3%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lafayette County has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Lafayette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County | 2.52 | 40.8 | 8.6% | 19.8% | 6.2% | 1965 | $904 | 22.6% | 91.0% | 3.1% |
| Green County | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.1% | 24.1% | 5.1% | 1970 | $941 | 27.7% | 94.1% | 3.6% |
| Rock County | 2.45 | 40.7 | 11.6% | 28.8% | 6.3% | 1970 | $1,094 | 25.9% | 92.4% | 3.8% |
| Walworth County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 9.0% | 29.4% | 16.6% | 1977 | $1,218 | 32.5% | 92.8% | 2.9% |
| Racine County | 2.46 | 42.0 | 13.2% | 29.0% | 7.6% | 1969 | $1,184 | 28.1% | 92.3% | 4.6% |
| Kenosha County | 2.46 | 40.4 | 12.3% | 33.3% | 8.0% | 1976 | $1,290 | 31.4% | 91.9% | 4.5% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pepin County, WI · Madison County, NC · Mahaska County, IA · Manistee County, MI · Marengo County, AL · Marion County, KY · Marion County, MS · Martin County, MN · Martin County, NC · Mason County, WV
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 Lafayette 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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