CensusEasy
COUNTY

Jefferson County

Wisconsin · 86,505 residents (2025 est.) · 556 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Watertown micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

With 86,003 people, Jefferson County is a county in Wisconsin. That puts it in the top 4% of US counties for household income. The foreign-born share is 4%. 73% of homes are owner-occupied. About 29% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $274,100, having more than doubled since 2000.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
86,003
+16%since 2000
from 74,021 in 2000
86,505 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
155 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 144 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+13%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
556 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
66K71K77K82K88K19902000201020202024Jefferson County
202486K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(4,066)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(4,695)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(4,788)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.1%(6,942)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.2%(5,369)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(9,731)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(10,869)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(11,035)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(12,575)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.3%(9,696)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.8%(4,987)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(1,250)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$83,750
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,901 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,881
+97%since 2000
from $21,236 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.8%
+24.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.403
+4%since 2010
from 0.388 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$274,100
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $123,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,035
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $564 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
26.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.37 people
−5%since 2009
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−12.5 ptssince 2009
from 31.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+2%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(69,765)
Black0.2%(184)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(3,031)
Asian0.4%(323)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87%(74,788)
Black0.9%(793)
Hispanic / Latino8.5%(7,309)
Asian0.6%(533)
Other3%(2,580)
Diversity Score
29
+59%since 2009
from 19 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
19
−18%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.4%(5,511)
Puerto Rican0.8%(710)
Nicaraguan0.3%(219)
Cuban0.3%(216)
Honduran0.2%(208)
Spaniard0.2%(135)
Colombian0.1%(56)
Uruguayan0%(29)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.2%(142)
Chinese0.1%(104)
Filipino0.1%(104)
Asian Indian0.1%(44)
Hmong0%(31)
Pakistani0%(17)
Korean0%(15)
Japanese0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(49)
Tongan0%(1)
Ancestry
German46.1%(39,624)
Irish11.1%(9,535)
Polish6.7%(5,799)
Norwegian6.2%(5,361)
English5.8%(4,995)
American3.7%(3,150)
Italian3.1%(2,628)
French2.4%(2,096)
Scottish1.4%(1,207)
Swedish1.3%(1,144)
Dutch1.2%(1,027)
Swiss0.8%(721)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.7%(621)
Russian0.6%(535)
Danish0.5%(433)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(332)
Belgian0.4%(322)
Welsh0.3%(273)
Hungarian0.3%(269)
Austrian0.3%(247)
Lithuanian0.3%(225)
Finnish0.2%(208)
Serbian0.2%(208)
Greek0.2%(196)
Slovak0.2%(176)
Ukrainian0.2%(136)
Kenyan0.1%(118)
Croatian0.1%(112)
Slovene0.1%(97)
British0.1%(75)
Arab0.1%(53)
Australian0.1%(53)
Canadian0%(42)
Lebanese0%(35)
Romanian0%(31)
Egyptian0%(18)
Brazilian0%(13)
Nigerian0%(10)
Latvian0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+66%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 71.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
79.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 80.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+12.7 ptssince 2017
from 77.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2020
from 90.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
90.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 87.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
93.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.9%(12,577)
Married52.4%(18,881)
Widowed2.5%(913)
Divorced10.1%(3,633)
Women 15+
Never married29.2%(10,644)
Married49.5%(18,028)
Widowed8.4%(3,068)
Divorced12.9%(4,710)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2013
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
64.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2020
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 16.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
15.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 15.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
77.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 79.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
33.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 32.1% 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)22.9%(1,020)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(861)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.2%(1,567)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2%(90)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(16)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 4,449 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 Jefferson County

Bartholomew County
Pop 85,729
Walton County
Pop 93,288
Floyd County
Pop 82,153
Monroe County
Pop 80,406
Places similar to Jefferson County
Head to head

Compare Jefferson County to nearby counties

JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Waukesha County
Income$106,076+27%
Home value$398,200+45%
Population417,210+382%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income$80,520−4%
Home value$302,700+10%
Population106,127+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Rock County
Income$75,673−10%
Home value$231,600−16%
Population166,472+92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Dodge County
Income$75,929−9%
Home value$231,900−15%
Population89,097+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

Jefferson County, Wisconsin has about 86,003 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Jefferson County, Wisconsin earns about $83,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Jefferson County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Jefferson County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $274,100, and the typical rent is about $1,035 a month.

How educated are people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

About 28.5% of adults age 25 and over in Jefferson County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

About 8.1% of people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Jefferson County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Jefferson County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 18,220 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →