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COUNTY

Lafayette County

Wisconsin · 17,478 residents (2025 est.) · 633.588 sq mi
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The short version

Lafayette County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $76,462. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $194,500. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

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

Total population
16,942
+5%since 2000
from 16,137 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 25 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
+7%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,478 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K16K17K17K1990201020202024Lafayette County
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,462
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,220 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,123
+121%since 2000
from $16,811 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.1%
+28.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.415
+10%since 2010
from 0.378 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction12.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$194,500
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$830
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.2%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
19.8% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.4%
−11.9 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+18%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lafayette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(15,921)
Black0.1%(17)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(92)
Asian0.2%(36)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.2%(362)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.7%(15,201)
Black0.4%(62)
Hispanic / Latino7.1%(1,200)
Asian0.5%(90)
Other2.3%(389)
Diversity Score23.7%(4,011)
Segregation Score18.1%(3,070)
Diversity Score
24
+956%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
18
+12%since 2020
from 16 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.6%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+47%since 2000
from 16.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 73.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 70.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.7%
−27.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
49.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 10.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−77.8 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.2%
+11.5 ptssince 2017
from 70.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 92.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lafayette County

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Pop 16,415
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Pop 18,158
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Pop 18,391
Douglas County
Pop 19,880
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%
Population21,594+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Iowa County
Income$82,182+7%
Home value$265,000+36%
Population23,951+37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Green County
Income$82,852+8%
Home value$250,200+29%
Population37,227+113%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE COUNTY VS
Stephenson County
Income$64,043−16%
Home value$134,900−31%
Population43,220+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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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9701
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 53530ZIP 53504ZIP 53516ZIP 53586ZIP 53510ZIP 53803ZIP 53587ZIP 53541ZIP 53599
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →