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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lafayette County

Wisconsin · 16,611 residents · 634 sq mi
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The short version

Lafayette County is home to 16,611 people in Wisconsin. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 77% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 2%. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $143,600. Renters pay $722 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 40.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% 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

16,611
+3%since 2000
from 16,137 in 2000
1990 – 2025
40.9
+7%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
634 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K16K16K17K17K19902000201020202024Lafayette County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.3%(1,049)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.9%(1,148)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.3%(1,219)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.7%(1,115)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(794)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(1,815)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.4%(1,893)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.5%(1,918)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.3%(2,546)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.2%(1,866)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.3%(888)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.2%(360)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$61,070
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,220 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$28,843
+72%since 2000
from $16,811 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.4%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
11.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction13.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Information12.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$143,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$722
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,124
77.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
22.7% rent
2.45 people
+2%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.4
−3%since 2009
from 2.4 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-Hispanic98.7%(15,921)
Black0.1%(17)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(92)
Asian0.2%(36)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.8%(15,081)
Black0.2%(27)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(1,089)
Asian0.2%(36)
Other1.3%(210)
16
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
Mexican3.5%(585)
Honduran0.2%(28)
Cuban0%(5)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(28)
Asian Indian0.2%(27)
Chinese0%(8)
Ancestry
German31.9%(5,326)
Irish15.5%(2,582)
Norwegian13.1%(2,179)
English10.1%(1,690)
Swiss7.1%(1,189)
American3.9%(643)
Polish2%(337)
Dutch1.9%(313)
French1.4%(240)
Italian1.2%(192)
Czech0.9%(147)
Swedish0.7%(124)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.6%(103)
Welsh0.5%(84)
Danish0.3%(52)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(46)
British0.2%(35)
Austrian0.1%(15)
Belgian0.1%(14)
Hungarian0.1%(14)
Brazilian0.1%(13)
Russian0.1%(11)
Slovak0.1%(9)
Greek0%(6)
Finnish0%(4)
Slovene0%(4)
Iranian0%(3)
Serbian0%(2)
Section 05

Education

19.4%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

24.9 min
+49%since 2000
from 16.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
78.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 73.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

1.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
65.0%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 70.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
76.1%
US average: 73.3%
32.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

50.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
49.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
2.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
8.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
83.6%
US average: 91.9%
92.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married31.3%(2,123)
Married54.5%(3,691)
Widowed3.8%(255)
Divorced10.4%(703)
Women 15+
Never married23.3%(1,548)
Married57%(3,791)
Widowed9.8%(651)
Divorced9.9%(656)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

8.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 11.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
54.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
19.5%
US average: 13.7%
20.8%
US average: 17.6%
16.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
71.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
34.6%
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)11.9%(115)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)11.5%(112)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era43.5%(422)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War12.6%(122)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.1%(20)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 970 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Lafayette County, Wisconsin?

Lafayette County, Wisconsin has about 16,611 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lafayette County, Wisconsin earns about $61,070 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 $143,600, and the typical rent is about $722 a month.

How educated are people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin?

About 19.4% 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 11.2% 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 535 residents, a change of about 3 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 →