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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Jefferson County

Wisconsin · 84,900 residents · 556 sq mi
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The short version

Jefferson County is home to 84,900 people in Wisconsin. The foreign-born share is 3%. 71% of homes are owner-occupied. About 27% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $194,300, having risen by half since 2000. Growth has run 15% since 2000, or 10,879 more people.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
84,900
+15%since 2000
from 74,021 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
41.0
+12%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
556 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
66K71K77K82K88K19902000201020202024Jefferson County
202486K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.1%(4,330)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(4,929)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.6%(5,640)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 198%(6,784)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(4,613)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.3%(9,559)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.5%(10,572)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.8%(10,908)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.6%(12,393)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.9%(9,243)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.3%(4,474)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(1,455)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,167
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,901 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,461
+58%since 2000
from $21,236 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
44.6%
+12.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
8.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.4%
US avg: 10%
Information10.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$194,300
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $123,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$869
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $564 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
71.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
28.8% rent
Persons per household
2.44 people
−2%since 2009
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.9
−10%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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(69,765)
Black0.2%(184)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(3,031)
Asian0.4%(323)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(73,325)
Black1%(864)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(7,068)
Asian0.8%(646)
Other2.1%(1,791)
Segregation Score
23
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
Mexican5.4%(4,580)
Puerto Rican0.8%(683)
Ecuadorian0.2%(179)
Honduran0.1%(88)
Dominican0.1%(78)
Cuban0.1%(76)
Spaniard0%(42)
Colombian0%(33)
Peruvian0%(29)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(85)
Chinese0.1%(69)
Korean0.1%(60)
Asian Indian0.1%(45)
Laotian0%(39)
Taiwanese0%(35)
Hmong0%(32)
Filipino0%(27)
Thai0%(20)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German48.5%(41,184)
Irish12.2%(10,348)
Polish6.9%(5,850)
Norwegian6.9%(5,844)
English6.9%(5,843)
American4.2%(3,554)
Italian3.4%(2,915)
French2.5%(2,131)
Scottish1.5%(1,278)
Dutch1.4%(1,183)
Swedish1.4%(1,159)
Swiss1%(849)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.7%(563)
Danish0.6%(506)
Welsh0.5%(441)
Russian0.5%(438)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(414)
British0.4%(365)
Belgian0.4%(335)
Hungarian0.4%(330)
Finnish0.3%(241)
Austrian0.3%(223)
Serbian0.3%(218)
Greek0.2%(170)
Lithuanian0.2%(135)
Canadian0.2%(132)
Slovene0.2%(132)
Croatian0.1%(115)
Slovak0.1%(106)
Arab0.1%(62)
Lebanese0.1%(59)
Ukrainian0.1%(59)
Armenian0.1%(48)
Australian0.1%(47)
Romanian0.1%(43)
Iranian0%(40)
Latvian0%(18)
Syrian0%(4)
Israeli0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.0%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.5 min
+70%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
69.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 71.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
80.6%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
33.6%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.5%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
87.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
4.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2013
from 8.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
65.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.6%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
19.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
15.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
79.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
32.1%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)20.1%(900)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18.9%(849)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era37.1%(1,665)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.6%(252)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II1.4%(62)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 4,482 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

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Pop 85,729
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Head to head

Compare Jefferson County to nearby counties

JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Waukesha County
Income$106,076+58%
Home value$398,200+105%
Population417,210+382%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Walworth County
Income$80,520+20%
Home value$302,700+56%
Population106,127+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Rock County
Income$75,673+13%
Home value$231,600+19%
Population166,472+92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
JEFFERSON COUNTY VS
Dodge County
Income$75,929+13%
Home value$231,900+19%
Population89,097+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

Jefferson County, Wisconsin has about 84,900 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Jefferson County, Wisconsin earns about $67,167 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 $194,300, and the typical rent is about $869 a month.

How educated are people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

About 26.7% 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 8.4% 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 17,117 residents, a change of about 25 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 →