Population 66,009 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sauk County
Household size in Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Sauk County are small: just 2.38 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. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Sauk County is 42.4 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.8, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the north.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sauk County: 8.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. 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 Sauk County
Renters in Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Sauk County own their homes; 27.6% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Compared with other Wisconsin counties, though, Sauk County has a higher share of renters than most.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Sauk County as nationally: 10.2%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Sauk County was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Wisconsin overall, where the median home dates to 1974. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $696 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $749 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $804 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,013 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$317 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Sauk County runs $1,013 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $317 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.5% 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 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 Sauk County
Bachelor's degrees in Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Sauk County than nationally: 27.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the west.
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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.7% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sauk County is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, 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 Sauk County
| Period | Sauk County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Sauk County has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only five have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Sauk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk County | 2.38 | 42.4 | 8.3% | 27.6% | 10.2% | 1979 | $1,013 | 27.2% | 92.6% | 2.2% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.3% | 9.8% | 1975 | $1,019 | 25.9% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Richland County | 2.34 | 46.5 | 7.4% | 26.1% | 14.9% | 1969 | $911 | 21.1% | 92.7% | 3.4% |
| Dodge County | 2.39 | 43.6 | 8.4% | 28.7% | 7.5% | 1969 | $1,009 | 20.3% | 92.8% | 3.4% |
| Washington County | 2.44 | 44.6 | 7.8% | 21.9% | 4.7% | 1984 | $1,278 | 35.4% | 95.8% | 2.6% |
| Ozaukee County | 2.43 | 44.5 | 7.1% | 27.1% | 5.2% | 1978 | $1,567 | 51.4% | 97.8% | 2.7% |
| Howard County | 2.47 | 40.8 | 11.9% | 22.6% | 12.9% | 1955 | $703 | 18.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
| Mitchell County | 2.30 | 41.5 | 6.1% | 20.0% | 7.1% | 1956 | $733 | 24.7% | 93.1% | 1.1% |
| Worth County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 6.6% | 16.8% | 9.7% | 1946 | $796 | 19.0% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Winnebago County | 2.19 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 29.4% | 9.6% | 1960 | $699 | 26.0% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Newaygo County | 2.58 | 42.8 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 18.4% | 1978 | $929 | 17.7% | 89.3% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sampson County, NC · Lawrence County, OH · Lea County, NM · Acadia Parish, LA · Lonoke County, AR · Lowndes County, MS · Putnam County, WV · Rutherford County, NC · Salem County, NJ · Laurens County, SC
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 Sauk 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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