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COUNTY

Waupaca County

Wisconsin · 51,461 residents (2025 est.) · 747.702 sq mi
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The short version

Waupaca County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $72,830. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% 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 $211,400. With a median age of 45.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. 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
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
51,569
Unchangedsince 2000
from 51,731 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
69 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 69 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.3
+18%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:51,461 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
45K47K49K51K53K1990201020202024Waupaca County
202452K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(2,545)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(2,551)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(3,292)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.7%(2,929)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(2,564)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(5,560)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(6,130)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.7%(6,546)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.5%(8,485)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.7%(6,558)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(3,065)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(1,344)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$72,830
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,910 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,606
+123%since 2000
from $18,664 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.8%
+24.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
+15%since 2010
from 0.393 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade29.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$211,400
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$852
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $450 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
24.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+3%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
40
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waupaca County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(50,295)
Black0.2%(82)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(714)
Asian0.3%(137)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(47,642)
Black0.5%(252)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(2,006)
Asian0.3%(133)
Other3%(1,536)
Diversity Score
18
+99%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
10
−55%since 2020
from 22 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
Mexican3.2%(1,660)
Puerto Rican0.2%(125)
Cuban0.1%(74)
Colombian0.1%(45)
Spaniard0%(25)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(59)
Asian Indian0.1%(29)
Hmong0.1%(27)
Laotian0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German44.3%(22,830)
Irish9.6%(4,958)
Polish7.6%(3,936)
Norwegian7.3%(3,749)
English6.4%(3,307)
American3.5%(1,780)
French2.7%(1,376)
Dutch2.4%(1,241)
Danish1.6%(814)
Italian1.6%(813)
Swedish1.5%(780)
Scottish1%(515)
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.8%(392)
Finnish0.5%(252)
Hungarian0.5%(242)
Swiss0.5%(239)
Russian0.4%(191)
Belgian0.4%(184)
Welsh0.2%(117)
Greek0.2%(103)
Austrian0.2%(101)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(65)
British0.1%(54)
Slovak0.1%(54)
Croatian0.1%(50)
Canadian0.1%(48)
Lithuanian0.1%(39)
Israeli0.1%(36)
Slovene0.1%(31)
Arab0.1%(27)
Egyptian0%(22)
Armenian0%(15)
Ukrainian0%(15)
Serbian0%(13)
Haitian0%(12)
Latvian0%(11)
Romanian0%(10)
Syrian0%(5)
Turkish0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.9 min
+62%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 79.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 65.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.9%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−86.4 ptssince 2013
from 92.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.8%
+13.3 ptssince 2017
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.9%(6,795)
Married53.5%(11,773)
Widowed3.3%(723)
Divorced12.3%(2,711)
Women 15+
Never married20.4%(4,327)
Married57.5%(12,180)
Widowed8.3%(1,758)
Divorced13.8%(2,914)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Waupaca County to nearby counties

WAUPACA COUNTY VS
Shawano County
Income$66,479−9%
Home value$194,000−8%
Population41,560−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUPACA COUNTY VS
Outagamie County
Income$85,069+17%
Home value$267,300+26%
Population195,894+281%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUPACA COUNTY VS
Portage County
Income$76,070+4%
Home value$243,100+15%
Population71,943+40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUPACA COUNTY VS
Waushara County
Income$67,107−8%
Home value$203,100−4%
Population25,223−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waupaca County, Wisconsin?

Waupaca County, Wisconsin has about 51,569 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Waupaca County, Wisconsin earns about $72,830 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waupaca County, Wisconsin expensive?

In Waupaca County, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $211,400, and the typical rent is about $852 a month.

How educated are people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Waupaca County, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waupaca County, Wisconsin?

About 10.4% of people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waupaca County, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Waupaca County, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,465 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 1009Census Tract 1010Census Tract 1011Census Tract 1006Census Tract 1008Census Tract 1004Census Tract 1003Census Tract 1012Census Tract 1007Census Tract 1001Census Tract 1005Census Tract 1002
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 54981ZIP 54961ZIP 54929ZIP 54983ZIP 54949ZIP 54945ZIP 54950ZIP 54977ZIP 54962ZIP 54946ZIP 54926ZIP 54933
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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