Population 5,914,872 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wisconsin
Household size in Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Wisconsin are small: just 2.40 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.45, mirroring the country.
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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 41.4, the median age in Wisconsin 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 climbed from 38.8, mirroring the country.
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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Wisconsin (9.8%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points, in line with the national trend. Wisconsin has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of states.
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 Wisconsin
Renters in Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Wisconsin is about as common as it is nationally: 32.2% of households rent, against 34.8%. About four in ten owners (38.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in southeastern Wisconsin and least common in northwestern Wisconsin. The renter share has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Wisconsin is close to the national rate: 9.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 1.3 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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Wisconsin run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1970 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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Wisconsin costs $1,139 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $380 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.6% of the typical renter's income, just 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 Wisconsin
Bachelor's degrees in Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Wisconsin (33.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Wisconsin is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Wisconsin has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of states.
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 Wisconsin
| Period | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Wisconsin has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only three of the 50 states and D.C. have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.4 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).
Wisconsin compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 2.40 | 41.4 | 9.8% | 32.2% | 9.2% | 1974 | $1,139 | 33.6% | 93.3% | 3.3% |
| Minnesota | 2.52 | 40.0 | 9.6% | 27.8% | 8.3% | 1978 | $1,404 | 39.6% | 93.7% | 4.1% |
| Iowa | 2.43 | 39.8 | 10.0% | 28.3% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,020 | 32.3% | 93.0% | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Michigan | 2.51 | 41.3 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 10.2% | 1972 | $1,228 | 32.7% | 91.8% | 5.9% |
| Indiana | 2.54 | 39.3 | 11.7% | 29.4% | 9.3% | 1977 | $1,146 | 30.0% | 89.9% | 4.3% |
| Missouri | 2.49 | 40.1 | 11.0% | 31.9% | 10.5% | 1978 | $1,122 | 32.6% | 91.8% | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 2.46 | 40.8 | 11.7% | 32.8% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,142 | 31.9% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
| South Dakota | 2.48 | 38.9 | 10.7% | 31.4% | 10.3% | 1981 | $1,000 | 32.5% | 93.1% | 3.1% |
| Nebraska | 2.51 | 38.3 | 10.4% | 33.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,159 | 34.9% | 91.8% | 3.1% |
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Wyoming · West Virginia · Washington · Virginia · Vermont · Utah · Texas · Tennessee · South Dakota
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 Wisconsin. 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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