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CITY

Cottage Grove

Wisconsin · 8,930 residents (2025 est.) · 4.69 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#105Lowest unemploymentof 6,8260.9%
The short version

Cottage Grove is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $139,313. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 4,454 residents. 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $449,700. Poverty is rare here, at 3.7% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
60% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,513
+110%since 2000
from 4,059 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,815 / sq mi
+110%since 2000
from 865 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.5
+19%since 2000
from 31.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,930 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3933K5K7K9K1990201020202024Cottage Grove
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$139,313
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,628 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$58,531
+127%since 2000
from $25,777 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
77.8%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.332
−4%since 2010
from 0.347 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade6.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$449,700
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $164,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,531
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $819 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
30.1% rent
Vacancy rate
1.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+31%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
79
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cottage Grove on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(3,836)
Black1.8%(74)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(73)
Asian0.5%(20)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.1%(411)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.8%(7,220)
Black1.6%(134)
Hispanic / Latino5%(425)
Asian6.1%(519)
Other2.5%(215)
Diversity Score34.2%(2,912)
Diversity Score
34
+238%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
60.4%
+22.3 ptssince 2000
from 38.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 94.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.2%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+111%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.5%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.5%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.4%
+14.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
78.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 82.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
22.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
55.8%
−13.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−38.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 5.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.0%
−95.4 ptssince 2013
from 96.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.4%
+16.5 ptssince 2017
from 80.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.0%
+8.8 ptssince 2016
from 83.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−8.5 ptssince 2016
from 10.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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COTTAGE GROVE VS
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COTTAGE GROVE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin?

Cottage Grove, Wisconsin has about 8,513 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin earns about $139,313 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cottage Grove, Wisconsin expensive?

In Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $449,700, and the typical rent is about $1,531 a month.

How educated are people in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin?

About 60.4% of adults age 25 and over in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin?

About 3.7% of people in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cottage Grove, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,382 residents, a change of about 653 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Cottage Grove, Wisconsin: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy