Population 13,588 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McFarland
Household size in McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in McFarland run small, averaging 2.48 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Locally, though, the typical household here is bigger than in the Madison area overall, where it has 2.30 people. Household size has edged down from 2.52 in 2006–10, as it has 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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.0 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.2 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.0, the median age in McFarland is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the wider Madison area, where the median age is 38.9. 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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in McFarland than nationally: 12.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a higher 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 McFarland
Renters in McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
McFarland is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (35.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in McFarland: just 2.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 4.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have a lower vacancy rate.
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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in McFarland is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $904 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $958 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,179 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,587 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$683 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in McFarland costs $1,587 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Madison area overall ($1,366). Rents are up $683 a month from 2006–10, a 76% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.8% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 McFarland
Bachelor's degrees in McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.9% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.0% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.7% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.2 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
McFarland is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (51.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 19 of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.6% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.9% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.4% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in McFarland: 98.4% 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 3.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 McFarland
| Period | McFarland | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.2% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in McFarland has been low: just 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
McFarland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland | 2.48 | 41.0 | 12.9% | 21.3% | 2.6% | 1992 | $1,587 | 51.7% | 98.4% | 2.7% |
| Monona | 2.14 | 44.7 | 8.6% | 39.5% | 5.6% | 1963 | $1,476 | 57.5% | 97.1% | 2.3% |
| Cottage Grove | 2.42 | 39.7 | 4.1% | 24.3% | 3.3% | 1998 | $1,533 | 51.2% | 98.2% | 2.2% |
| Stoughton | 2.38 | 43.5 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 6.9% | 1978 | $1,165 | 41.0% | 96.2% | 1.6% |
| Madison area | 2.30 | 38.9 | 8.2% | 39.7% | 5.5% | 1983 | $1,366 | 50.6% | 95.1% | 2.6% |
| Fitchburg | 2.14 | 36.3 | 8.3% | 48.9% | 3.1% | 1993 | $1,463 | 56.8% | 94.4% | 2.7% |
| Stone | 2.17 | 46.9 | 6.5% | 27.0% | 1.6% | 1988 | $1,164 | 38.0% | 97.1% | 0.7% |
| Oregon | 2.51 | 40.6 | 10.7% | 23.3% | 3.0% | 1991 | $1,482 | 50.6% | 97.7% | 1.9% |
| Utica | 2.62 | 48.9 | 3.3% | 12.9% | 5.8% | 1975 | $1,052 | 38.5% | 98.2% | 3.3% |
| Maple Bluff | 2.43 | 45.2 | 5.1% | 15.4% | 7.1% | 1960 | $1,862 | 82.4% | 99.3% | 1.0% |
| Shorewood Hills | 2.37 | 37.4 | 4.6% | 45.7% | 4.0% | 1980 | $1,857 | 91.2% | 98.9% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Advance, NC · Zapata, TX · Yorktown Heights, NY · Yauco, PR · Woodruff, SC · Woodland, WA · Winnetka, IL · Winfield, KS · Winfield, IL · Windsor Locks, CT
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 McFarland. 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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