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COUNTY

Washburn County

Wisconsin · 17,087 residents (2025 est.) · 797 sq mi
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The short version

Washburn County is home to 16,854 people in Wisconsin. The median age is 52.7, about 14 years above the US median. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 2%. About 26% of adults have finished a four-year degree. There are 21 people per square mile.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 52.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,854
+5%since 2000
from 16,036 in 2000
17,087 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
21 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 21 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
52.7
+25%since 2000
from 42.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
797 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K15K16K17K19902000201020202024Washburn County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.8%(634)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(828)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.6%(947)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(943)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.1%(695)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348%(1,342)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.9%(1,664)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(1,940)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6418.6%(3,127)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7417.6%(2,967)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.9%(1,330)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(437)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,441
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,716 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,951
+125%since 2000
from $17,341 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.8%
+23.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+9%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$226,100
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$795
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $413 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
17.8% rent
Vacancy rate
41.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.20 people
+5%since 2009
from 2.10 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
19.7%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 33.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.6%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.6 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.
Gentrification Score
46
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(15,504)
Black0.2%(25)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(143)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(15,577)
Black0.2%(37)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(353)
Asian0.5%(78)
Other4.8%(809)
Diversity Score
18
+79%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
19
−1%since 2020
from 19 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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.5%(257)
Puerto Rican0.2%(36)
Spaniard0.1%(14)
Cuban0%(7)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(56)
Chinese0%(6)
Korean0%(4)
Thai0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German32.8%(5,523)
Norwegian11.4%(1,927)
Irish10.7%(1,801)
English8.7%(1,467)
Swedish7%(1,179)
Polish4.6%(781)
American4.6%(774)
French2.9%(492)
Italian2.8%(477)
Czech2.1%(357)
Dutch1.6%(263)
Scottish1.5%(247)
+ 30 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1.3%(215)
Finnish0.8%(142)
Swiss0.6%(105)
Welsh0.6%(99)
Russian0.4%(66)
Belgian0.3%(58)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(57)
Austrian0.3%(56)
Canadian0.3%(53)
British0.3%(49)
Lithuanian0.2%(35)
Portuguese0.2%(27)
Hungarian0.2%(26)
Serbian0.1%(25)
Croatian0.1%(22)
Greek0.1%(20)
Nigerian0.1%(19)
Slovak0.1%(16)
Slovene0.1%(9)
Arab0%(5)
Latvian0%(4)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.5%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.0%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+49%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.6%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.9%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
71.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 73.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
13.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.8%
+14.9 ptssince 2017
from 71.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
92.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 89.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
91.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 88.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
97.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.8%(1,804)
Married58.1%(4,221)
Widowed2.9%(208)
Divorced14.2%(1,028)
Women 15+
Never married20.4%(1,462)
Married58.5%(4,200)
Widowed9.9%(712)
Divorced11.3%(810)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
44.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 46.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
23.1%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 23.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
30.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 28.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
24.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 22.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
66.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 67.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
50.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 47.9% 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)17.1%(203)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.7%(235)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era41%(488)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.5%(77)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.5%(6)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,190 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

Places similar to Washburn County

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Pop 16,446
Union County
Pop 16,250
Bond County
Pop 16,959
Dade County
Pop 16,154
Places similar to Washburn County
Head to head

Compare Washburn County to nearby counties

WASHBURN COUNTY VS
Burnett County
Income$62,819−1%
Home value$231,300+2%
Population17,223+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHBURN COUNTY VS
Sawyer County
Income$60,801−4%
Home value$236,200+4%
Population18,846+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHBURN COUNTY VS
Barron County
Income$65,933+4%
Home value$216,600−4%
Population46,484+172%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASHBURN COUNTY VS
Douglas County
Income$75,099+18%
Home value$205,800−9%
Population43,990+157%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Washburn County, Wisconsin?

Washburn County, Wisconsin has about 16,854 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Washburn County, Wisconsin earns about $63,441 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Washburn County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Washburn County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $226,100, and the typical rent is about $795 a month.

How educated are people in Washburn County, Wisconsin?

About 25.5% of adults age 25 and over in Washburn County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Washburn County, Wisconsin?

About 11.5% of people in Washburn County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Washburn County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Washburn County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,082 residents, a change of about 22 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 →