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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Milwaukee County

Wisconsin · 939,489 residents · 241.457 sq mi
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The short version

Milwaukee County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,260. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $164,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% 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
939,489
Unchangedsince 2000
from 940,164 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,891 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 3,894 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
35.3
+5%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
923K933K943K953K963K1990201020202024Milwaukee County
2024926K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,260
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,100 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,159
+51%since 2000
from $19,939 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.3%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15%
US avg: 10%
Information10.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$164,200
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$889
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $555 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
47.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 52.6% in 2000
52.1% rent
Afford Score
3.1
+19%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Milwaukee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic62.1%(583,481)
Black24.3%(228,471)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(82,406)
Asian2.5%(23,879)
Other0%
Diversity Score65.7%(617,666)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic48.6%(456,520)
Black25.6%(240,416)
Hispanic / Latino16.3%(153,017)
Asian4.9%(45,989)
Other3.9%(37,088)
Diversity Score82.9%(778,951)
Segregation Score58.4%(548,590)
Diversity Score
83
+26%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
58
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.3%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 23.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.7%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+69%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
13.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 67.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.7%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 64.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
9.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.2%
−80.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Milwaukee County

Shelby County
Pop 910,226
Polk County
Pop 874,790
Marion County
Pop 992,196
Kern County
Pop 927,068
Places similar to Milwaukee County
Head to head

Compare Milwaukee County to nearby counties

MILWAUKEE COUNTY VS
Racine County
Income$78,096+49%
Home value$251,400+53%
Population198,919−78%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE COUNTY VS
Kenosha County
Income$81,239+55%
Home value$265,500+62%
Population168,448−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE COUNTY VS
Waukesha County
Income$106,076+103%
Home value$398,200+143%
Population417,210−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$96,359+84%
Home value$344,800+110%
Population139,238−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has about 939,489 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin earns about $52,260 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Milwaukee County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $164,200, and the typical rent is about $889 a month.

How educated are people in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

About 31.3% of adults age 25 and over in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?

About 18.3% of people in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Milwaukee County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 19,786 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

302 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 1501Census Tract 1602.03Census Tract 1602.02Census Tract 1873Census Tract 1204Census Tract 602Census Tract 1503.01Census Tract 197Census Tract 217Census Tract 1402.02Census Tract 501.01Census Tract 2.02Census Tract 1402.01Census Tract 912Census Tract 1205.02Census Tract 2.01Census Tract 6Census Tract 198Census Tract 34Census Tract 163
36 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 53215ZIP 53209ZIP 53218ZIP 53204ZIP 53221ZIP 53154ZIP 53132ZIP 53219ZIP 53214ZIP 53207ZIP 53211ZIP 53216ZIP 53217ZIP 53212ZIP 53223ZIP 53220ZIP 53208ZIP 53213ZIP 53202ZIP 53225ZIP 53222ZIP 53210ZIP 53227ZIP 53224ZIP 53172ZIP 53206ZIP 53226ZIP 53110ZIP 53228ZIP 53129
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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