Population 51,569 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waupaca County
Household size in Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Waupaca County is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.38, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.2 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.2, Waupaca County 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 42.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Waupaca County (9.6%), below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin. Compared with other Wisconsin counties, though, Waupaca County has a higher 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 Waupaca County
Renters in Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Waupaca County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (39.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as 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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Waupaca County: 11.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 2.0 points since 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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Waupaca County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the northeast 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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $648 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $700 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $739 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $956 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$308 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Waupaca County costs $956 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $308 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.5% 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 southwest; the highest are in the east.
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 Waupaca County
Bachelor's degrees in Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Waupaca County: 20.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Waupaca County have finished high school (92.1%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin. The share with a diploma is up 3.8 points from 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 Waupaca County
| Period | Waupaca County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Waupaca County has been strong: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.4 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).
Waupaca 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca County | 2.24 | 45.2 | 9.6% | 24.7% | 11.8% | 1975 | $956 | 20.4% | 92.1% | 2.8% |
| Outagamie County | 2.47 | 39.9 | 8.5% | 28.5% | 4.2% | 1979 | $1,098 | 33.3% | 94.9% | 2.7% |
| Portage County | 2.30 | 40.2 | 8.2% | 30.3% | 6.5% | 1979 | $969 | 33.6% | 94.3% | 3.1% |
| Brown County | 2.45 | 38.9 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 5.1% | 1982 | $1,091 | 33.6% | 93.6% | 2.6% |
| Wood County | 2.31 | 43.8 | 10.0% | 27.4% | 8.0% | 1971 | $884 | 21.2% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
| Kewaunee County | 2.47 | 45.1 | 7.5% | 13.5% | 9.9% | 1970 | $877 | 22.1% | 94.5% | 1.5% |
| Jackson County | 2.46 | 43.7 | 9.5% | 19.9% | 15.3% | 1979 | $827 | 15.8% | 92.1% | 5.2% |
| Manistee County | 2.28 | 49.9 | 7.2% | 14.2% | 30.4% | 1971 | $894 | 23.8% | 91.9% | 6.3% |
| Buffalo County | 2.33 | 46.8 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 1967 | $945 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 2.9% |
| Pepin County | 2.45 | 46.5 | 9.2% | 17.0% | 13.6% | 1972 | $892 | 22.8% | 93.9% | 3.1% |
| Wexford County | 2.47 | 42.9 | 11.1% | 19.1% | 15.1% | 1979 | $1,054 | 21.0% | 89.9% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Summit County, UT · Brown County, OH · Butler County, MO · Camden County, MO · Canovanas Municipio, PR · Cerro Gordo County, IA · Cherokee County, OK · Chesterfield County, SC · Chilton County, AL · Clinton County, OH
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 Waupaca 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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