Lafayette County, Wisconsin Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Lafayette County, Wisconsin, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The estimated population of Lafayette County, Wisconsin is 16,662 people, with a median age of 41.4.

We can look at the total population in Lafayette County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
16,662
 -0.12% -0.56%
2020
16,682
 -0.2% -
2019
16,715
 -0.12% -
2018
16,735
 -0.12% -
2017
16,755
 - -

Population of Lafayette County, Wisconsin by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
93.2%
94.6%
 -1.48%
Black/African American
0.6%
0.4%
 +50.00%
Native
0.2%
0.4%
 -50.00%
Hispanic
4.3%
3.6%
 +19.44%
Asian
0.6%
0.3%
 +100.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1%
0.7%
 +42.86%
Other
0.2%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Lafayette County, Wisconsin by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 41.4 -0.72% 40.8 0% 42.1 -1.17%
2020 41.7 -0.24% 40.8 -0.73% 42.6 +0.24%
2019 41.8 +0.97% 41.1 +1.73% 42.5 +0.47%
2018 41.4 -0.48% 40.4 -0.25% 42.3 -0.47%
2017 41.6 - 40.5 - 42.5 -

The median age of Lafayette County, Wisconsin gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,215 -2.65% 1,058 +0.23% 1,182 1,060
10 to 19 1,092 +1.33% 1,141 -4.88% 1,104 1,086
20 to 29 944 -4.61% 813 +4.99% 901 854
30 to 39 960 +1.62% 908 +3.75% 975 942
40 to 49 953 -2.68% 972 -10% 926 878
50 to 59 1,343 -11.99% 1,281 -8.66% 1,188 1,173
60 to 69 1,035 +14.61% 978 +9.14% 1,193 1,069
70+ 943 +5.97% 1,119 +1.16% 1,000 1,131

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Lafayette County, Wisconsin is $65,009.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Lafayette County.

  • Under 25
    $58,750.00
  • 25 to 44
    $78,763.00
  • 45 to 64
    $76,541.00
  • 65 and over
    $40,799.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Lafayette County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Lafayette County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Lafayette County, Wisconsin is currently $76,155.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.24% of households in Lafayette County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Lafayette County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    15.19%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.20%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.51%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    17.22%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.05%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.58%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.24%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Lafayette County is $30,565.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Lafayette County by the total population of Lafayette County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Lafayette County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.92%
  • Bachelor's degree
    20.61%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.51%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    59.17%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.79%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Lafayette County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Lafayette County over the age of 16 is 13,137.

Of those people, a total of 65.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Lafayette County is 63.90%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 907 45.60% 6.50%
20 to 24 years 879 78.80% 1.70%
25 to 29 years 876 83.10% 2.50%
30 to 34 years 955 86.90% 2.30%
35 to 44 years 1,853 86.80% 1.50%
45 to 54 years 1,944 86.30% 1.90%
55 to 59 years 1,330 84.40% 0.60%
60 to 64 years 1,251 65.00% 1.20%
65 to 74 years 1,773 32.70% 4.50%
75 years and over 1,369 8.10% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Lafayette County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 12,624 65.50% 2.00%
Black or African American 96 39.60% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 26 34.60% 0.00%
Asian 85 56.50% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 117 65.00% 3.90%
Two or more races 189 72.00% 3.70%
Hispanic or Latino 434 62.20% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 12,370 65.60% 2.10%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Lafayette County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Lafayette County is 8,400, with median earnings of $39,363.00.

Women in Lafayette County, Wisconsin earning approximately 76.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 8,400 $39,363.00
Male 4,599 $44,401.00
Female 3,801 $33,899.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,299 $46,184.00
Business and Financial 318 $53,750.00
Computer and Mathematical 161 $56,250.00
Architecture and Engineering 75 $65,625.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 75 $56,250.00
Community and Social Service 103 $45,598.00
Legal 14 $32,500.00
Educational and Library 368 $50,000.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 76 $32,500.00
Healthcare Practitioners 380 $56,000.00
Healthcare Support 299 $31,793.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 12 $41,250.00
Law Enforcement 41 $47,361.00
Food Preparation and Serving 318 $11,981.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 241 $16,250.00
Personal Care and Service 174 $21,346.00
Sales 621 $28,964.00
Office and Administrative Support 885 $34,457.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 481 $30,491.00
Construction and Extraction 493 $52,642.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 477 $51,656.00
Production 862 $42,385.00
Transportation and Material Moving 319 $43,750.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 947 $49,706.00 352 $43,750.00
Business and Financial 114 $59,844.00 204 $46,964.00
Computer and Mathematical 57 $60,179.00 104 $52,500.00
Architecture and Engineering 62 $67,500.00 13 $41,250.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 35 $55,179.00 40 $61,875.00
Community and Social Service 34 $53,750.00 69 $45,417.00
Legal 0 $0.00 14 $32,500.00
Educational and Library 91 $56,563.00 277 $47,750.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 18 $27,500.00 58 $32,500.00
Healthcare Practitioners 28 $84,375.00 352 $54,000.00
Healthcare Support 15 $6,607.00 284 $32,283.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 6 $8,750.00 6 $43,333.00
Law Enforcement 28 $51,000.00 13 $46,806.00
Food Preparation and Serving 90 $13,214.00 228 $11,778.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 150 $20,000.00 91 $15,375.00
Personal Care and Service 40 $38,289.00 134 $20,192.00
Sales 257 $40,729.00 364 $22,685.00
Office and Administrative Support 176 $52,083.00 709 $33,489.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 353 $34,250.00 128 $18,707.00
Construction and Extraction 483 $52,869.00 10 $21,429.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 462 $51,938.00 15 $37,250.00
Production 650 $44,481.00 212 $34,138.00
Transportation and Material Moving 291 $44,904.00 28 $41,563.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 6,667 households in Lafayette County, with an average household size of 2.48 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 4,419 families in Lafayette County with an average family size of 3 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 3,576 341 502 2,248
Average Household Size 3.09 3.6 3.03 1.23
Total Families 3,576 341 502 0
Average Household Size 3.07 2.94 2.58 0

Poverty

Of the 4,419 families in Lafayette County, 7.80% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Lafayette County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 7,172 housing units in Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 6,667 92.96%
Vacant 505 7.04%

16.51% of the total 7,172 housing units in Lafayette County are rental units. This is approximately 1,184 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,286 are occupied by the owner - or 73.70% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Lafayette County is $746.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Lafayette County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    197
  • Less than $500
    227
  • $500 to $999
    732
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    184
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    14
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    23
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    4

Property Value

The median value of a property in Lafayette County is $150,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Lafayette County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    367
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,005
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,264
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    887
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    893
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    547
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    224
  • $1,000,000 or more
    99

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Lafayette County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Lafayette County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    2,421
  • 1940 to 1949
    353
  • 1950 to 1959
    649
  • 1960 to 1969
    503
  • 1970 to 1979
    987
  • 1980 to 1989
    632
  • 1990 to 1999
    602
  • 2000 to 2009
    716
  • 2010 to 2013
    308
  • 2014 or later
    1

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Lafayette County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    327
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,621
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,620
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,099

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Lafayette County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Lafayette County that commute to work in a particular way.

25.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Lafayette County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    719
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,146
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    843
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    713
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    871
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    479
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    804
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    299
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    294
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    618
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    389
  • 90 or more minutes
    202

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Lafayette County, Wisconsin in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Lafayette County, Wisconsin

We have data for 22 places in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.