Population 23,647 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Vilas County
Household size in Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.01 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.97 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.14 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Vilas County is a place of small households, averaging 2.14 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.04 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only four of Wisconsin's 72 counties have smaller 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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.6 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.0 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.4 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Vilas County skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.3, in line with the national trend. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only five 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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Vilas County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Vilas County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Wisconsin counties.
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 Vilas County
Renters in Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.0% of households in Vilas County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About half of owners (48.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.6 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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 53.5% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 52.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 52.5% of the housing in Vilas 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. No other Wisconsin county has a higher 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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Vilas County was built around 1981, 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 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $646 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $696 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $739 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $862 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$216 | +$380 | +$606 |
The median renter in Vilas County pays $862 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $216 a month from 2006–10, a 33% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 23.4% 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 Vilas County
Bachelor's degrees in Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Vilas County than nationally: 31.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the east.
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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Vilas County: 96.7% 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 5.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, only three 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 Vilas County
| Period | Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Vilas County than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in Wisconsin as a whole (3.3%). Unemployment has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Vilas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vilas County | 2.14 | 53.4 | 6.4% | 16.0% | 52.5% | 1981 | $862 | 31.0% | 96.7% | 4.0% |
| Oneida County | 2.18 | 51.4 | 6.0% | 17.7% | 37.0% | 1979 | $868 | 28.5% | 95.8% | 2.0% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Forest County | 2.31 | 48.5 | 10.8% | 18.0% | 47.3% | 1979 | $592 | 16.2% | 90.5% | 2.8% |
| Iron County | 2.07 | 52.5 | 9.2% | 15.5% | 35.5% | 1963 | $789 | 22.7% | 94.6% | 5.5% |
| Price County | 2.15 | 51.6 | 6.7% | 18.1% | 35.7% | 1973 | $758 | 17.7% | 93.8% | 2.9% |
| Florence County | 2.10 | 55.4 | 8.2% | 9.1% | 46.7% | 1977 | $780 | 25.8% | 92.8% | 4.4% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Dickinson County | 2.16 | 46.7 | 7.9% | 17.6% | 11.9% | 1966 | $884 | 25.7% | 96.2% | 3.6% |
| Rusk County | 2.26 | 47.8 | 8.8% | 22.1% | 22.4% | 1978 | $904 | 16.8% | 92.6% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Guayanilla Municipio, PR · Hardin County, OH · Hardin County, IA · Hardeman County, TN · Hardee County, FL · Haralson County, GA · Hancock County, WV · Hancock County, IL · Hampton County, SC · Hampshire 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 Vilas 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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