Population 74,004 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wood County
Household size in Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Wood County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.34 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the north and smallest 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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Wood County is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.8, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, 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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Wood County than nationally: 10.0%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. The single-parent share has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Wood County
Renters in Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.6% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Wood County own their homes; 27.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 45.3% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.8 points, 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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Wood County: 8.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Wood County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same.
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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $598 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $653 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $726 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $884 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$285 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Wood County runs $884 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $285 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the north.
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 Wood County
Bachelor's degrees in Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Wood County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.2%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.2% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Wood County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 5.4 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 Wood County
| Period | Wood County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Wood County runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Wood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County | 2.31 | 43.8 | 10.0% | 27.4% | 8.0% | 1971 | $884 | 21.2% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
| Portage County | 2.30 | 40.2 | 8.2% | 30.3% | 6.5% | 1979 | $969 | 33.6% | 94.3% | 3.1% |
| Jackson County | 2.46 | 43.7 | 9.5% | 19.9% | 15.3% | 1979 | $827 | 15.8% | 92.1% | 5.2% |
| 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% |
| Buffalo County | 2.33 | 46.8 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 1967 | $945 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 2.9% |
| Brown County | 2.45 | 38.9 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 5.1% | 1982 | $1,091 | 33.6% | 93.6% | 2.6% |
| Pepin County | 2.45 | 46.5 | 9.2% | 17.0% | 13.6% | 1972 | $892 | 22.8% | 93.9% | 3.1% |
| Kewaunee County | 2.47 | 45.1 | 7.5% | 13.5% | 9.9% | 1970 | $877 | 22.1% | 94.5% | 1.5% |
| Goodhue County | 2.42 | 43.1 | 8.1% | 21.2% | 7.0% | 1973 | $1,060 | 27.9% | 93.3% | 3.7% |
| Rice County | 2.55 | 39.3 | 9.7% | 23.7% | 7.6% | 1975 | $1,181 | 32.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Coryell County, TX · Wilson County, NC · Barrow County, GA · Bartholomew County, IN · Bedford County, VA · Floyd County, IN · Bullitt County, KY · Midland County, MI · Mayaguez Municipio, PR · Monroe County, FL
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 Wood 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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