United States › Wisconsin › Lafayette County COUNTY
Lafayette County Wisconsin · 17,478 residents (2025 est.) · 634 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
Lafayette County is home to 16,942 people in Wisconsin. That puts it in the top 6% of US counties for household income. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $194,500. There are 27 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,137 in 2000
17,478 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 16K 16K 17K 17K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lafayette County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $76,462
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,220 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,811 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.378 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 12.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Public administration 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.3%
Education & health services 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
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$194,500
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$830
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.5% in 2000
19.8% rent
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 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 98.7%(15,921)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(92)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 89.7%(15,201)
Hispanic / Latino 7.1%(1,200)
from 6 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 16 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 Ancestry
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 73.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 70.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 76.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 70.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 83.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 31.3%(2,123)
Women 15+
Never married 23.3%(1,548)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 54.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 16.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 71.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.6% 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) 21.4%(158)
Share of the 737 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Lafayette County Head to head
Compare Lafayette County to nearby counties LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Jo Daviess County
Income $73,993 −3%
Home value $209,900 +8%
Population 21,594 +24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Iowa County
Income $82,182 +7%
Home value $265,000 +36%
Population 23,951 +37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Green County
Income $82,852 +8%
Home value $250,200 +29%
Population 37,227 +113%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Stephenson County
Income $64,043 −16%
Home value $134,900 −31%
Population 43,220 +147%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lafayette County, Wisconsin? Lafayette County, Wisconsin has about 16,942 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lafayette County, Wisconsin? The typical household in Lafayette County, Wisconsin earns about $76,462 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lafayette County, Wisconsin expensive? In Lafayette County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $194,500, and the typical rent is about $830 a month.
How educated are people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin? About 22.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lafayette County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lafayette County, Wisconsin? About 11.9% of people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lafayette County, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, Lafayette County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 866 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.
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