United States › Wisconsin › River Falls CITY
River Falls Wisconsin · 17,916 residents (2025 est.) · 7.25 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 16,719 people, River Falls is a city in Wisconsin. The median age is 28.6, younger than the US median of 38.9. People stay put here: 72% were in the same home a year ago. 2% of residents were born outside the United States. 4,159 more people live here than in 2000. 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 12,560 in 2000
17,916 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,307 / sq mi
+19%since 2009
from 1,945 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 23.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K 12K 14K 15K 17K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 River Falls Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $83,627
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,184 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,667 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 5.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Education & health services 0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$327,600
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $125,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,107
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 51.0% in 2000
44.9% rent
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.29 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96%(12,063)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(119)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93.1%(15,561)
from 13 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 38.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 92.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 70.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 82.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 81.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 60.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 52.7%(3,550)
Women 15+
Never married 52.1%(3,957)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 10.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 85.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 24.4%(111)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.4%(70)
Share of the 455 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to River Falls Head to head
Compare River Falls to nearby cities RIVER FALLS VS
Hudson
Income $93,937 +12%
Home value $392,700 +20%
Population 15,019 −16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER FALLS VS
Hastings
Income $93,998 +12%
Home value $322,400 −2%
Population 22,563 +26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER FALLS VS
Cottage Grove
Income $120,791 +44%
Home value $378,800 +16%
Population 43,604 +143%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RIVER FALLS VS
Woodbury
Income $125,310 +50%
Home value $450,200 +37%
Population 81,558 +355%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in River Falls, Wisconsin? River Falls, Wisconsin has about 16,719 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in River Falls, Wisconsin? The typical household in River Falls, Wisconsin earns about $83,627 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is River Falls, Wisconsin expensive? In River Falls, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $327,600, and the typical rent is about $1,107 a month.
How educated are people in River Falls, Wisconsin? About 44.9% of adults age 25 and over in River Falls, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in River Falls, Wisconsin? About 15.1% of people in River Falls, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has River Falls, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, River Falls, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,178 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 