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CITY

DeForest

Wisconsin · 13,094 residents (2025 est.) · 8.684 sq mi
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The short version

DeForest is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $106,419. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 56% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $359,600. Poverty is rare here, at 5.7% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 37% more than the Wisconsin median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,501
+56%since 2000
from 7,368 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,324 / sq mi
+30%since 2009
from 1,020 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+25%since 2000
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,094 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K6K8K10K12K1990201020202024DeForest
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(560)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.4%(971)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(691)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.3%(836)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(493)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.4%(1,191)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.1%(1,512)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415.8%(1,818)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(1,639)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.4%(1,198)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.1%(361)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(231)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$106,419
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,369 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$53,093
+152%since 2000
from $21,089 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
68.0%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.413
+33%since 2010
from 0.310 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$359,600
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $136,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,442
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $664 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 72.0% in 2000
22.1% rent
Vacancy rate
4.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.6%
−16.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+13%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in DeForest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(6,935)
Black1.5%(108)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(161)
Asian0.7%(50)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.3%(9,347)
Black2.3%(261)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(912)
Asian2%(230)
Other6.5%(751)
Diversity Score
41
+146%since 2009
from 17 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.6%(533)
Puerto Rican1.6%(186)
Ecuadorian0.7%(80)
Uruguayan0.4%(43)
Panamanian0.3%(38)
Cuban0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Hmong1%(118)
Thai0.6%(65)
Chinese0.3%(37)
Vietnamese0.1%(8)
Ancestry
German40.6%(4,669)
Irish11.1%(1,279)
Norwegian11.1%(1,273)
English9.7%(1,110)
Polish4.4%(501)
Italian3.1%(358)
American2.4%(276)
Swedish2.3%(264)
French1.9%(222)
Dutch1.6%(180)
Scottish1.1%(123)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian0.7%(86)
Welsh0.6%(74)
Swiss0.6%(72)
Russian0.6%(71)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(66)
Danish0.5%(57)
British0.4%(46)
Lithuanian0.4%(45)
Czech0.3%(35)
Croatian0.2%(26)
Ukrainian0.2%(26)
Serbian0.2%(21)
Slovak0.2%(21)
Romanian0.2%(18)
Finnish0.1%(15)
Latvian0.1%(14)
Hungarian0.1%(13)
Brazilian0.1%(12)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.7%
+16.9 ptssince 2000
from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 92.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.5%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.2 min
+50%since 2000
from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.7%
−13.6 ptssince 2009
from 85.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
20.0%
+15.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.2%
−10.0 ptssince 2011
from 81.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.2%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
52.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−45.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 8.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−92.7 ptssince 2013
from 96.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.4%
+8.5 ptssince 2017
from 87.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 3.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.1%(1,170)
Married63.9%(2,755)
Widowed1.7%(75)
Divorced7.2%(310)
Women 15+
Never married22.9%(1,139)
Married54.6%(2,711)
Widowed6.2%(309)
Divorced16.3%(810)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare DeForest to nearby cities

DEFOREST VS
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Income$120,048+13%
Home value$425,600+18%
Population10,085−23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEFOREST VS
Waunakee
Income$125,220+18%
Home value$515,900+43%
Population16,411+25%
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DEFOREST VS
Sun Prairie
Income$90,942−15%
Home value$365,700+2%
Population39,227+200%
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DEFOREST VS
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Income$78,050−27%
Home value$372,900+4%
Population286,233+2086%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in DeForest, Wisconsin?

DeForest, Wisconsin has about 11,501 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in DeForest, Wisconsin?

The typical household in DeForest, Wisconsin earns about $106,419 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is DeForest, Wisconsin expensive?

In DeForest, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $359,600, and the typical rent is about $1,442 a month.

How educated are people in DeForest, Wisconsin?

About 41.7% of adults age 25 and over in DeForest, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in DeForest, Wisconsin?

About 5.7% of people in DeForest, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has DeForest, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, DeForest, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,619 residents, a change of about 136 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 →