Wisconsin State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 5,914,872 Household income: $77,485 Rent: $1,087

Overview

Total population

5,914,872

Rent

$1,087

Year built

1975

Household income

$77,485

Per capita income

$43,373

Poverty rate

10.6%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

41.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Wisconsin

Total population

5,914,872

Adults over 25

4,099,973

Total households

2,479,480

Household size

2.3 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$77,485

Per capita income

$43,373

Poverty rate

10.6%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Rent over 30% of income

41.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,087

Year built

1975

Households that rent

32.2%

Households that own

67.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

80.1%

Black

6.1%

Asian

Two or more races

7.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

92%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.9%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

13.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.7%

High school graduate or GED

29.4%

Some college or associate degree

12.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

33.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Wisconsin with: Illinois Michigan Minnesota United States

Wisconsin

Total population5,914,872

Rent$1,087

Year built1975

Household income$77,485

Per capita income$43,373

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3.0%

Illinois

Total population12,694,798

Rent$1,274

Year built1971

Household income$83,390

Per capita income$46,406

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate5%

Michigan

Total population10,077,761

Rent$1,129

Year built1972

Household income$72,875

Per capita income$40,735

Poverty rate13.2%

Unemployment rate4.7%

Minnesota

Total population5,739,445

Rent$1,280

Year built1979

Household income$89,062

Per capita income$48,237

Poverty rate9.3%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	StateWisconsin	StateIllinois	StateMichigan	StateMinnesota	CountyUnited States
Total population	5,914,872	12,694,798	10,077,761	5,739,445	334,922,499
Rent	$1,087	$1,274	$1,129	$1,280	$1,413
Year built	1975	1971	1972	1979	1980
Household income	$77,485	$83,390	$72,875	$89,062	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,373	$46,406	$40,735	$48,237	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.6%	11.8%	13.2%	9.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.0%	5%	4.7%	3%	4%

Wisconsin is compared to its neighboring states — Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Wisconsin

Wisconsin has about 5,914,872 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Wisconsin is $1,087, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Wisconsin is $77,485, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 10.6%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 67.8% of homes. About 32.2% of households in Wisconsin are renters. Around 41.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1975, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 33.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Wisconsin is 3%, lower than the U.S. rate of 4%.

Wisconsin — Rent vs Household Income

Wisconsin — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Wisconsin (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,087 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Wisconsin

Annual Household Income: $77,485

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Wisconsin

Estimated Rate: 10.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, households that rent: 797,266 (32.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	797,266	32.2%
Owner-Occupied	1,682,214	67.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 327,462 (41.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	327,462	41.1%
Other renter households	469,804	58.9%
Total renter households	797,266	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Wisconsin

Less than High School: 1,013,094 people (24.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 1,204,106 people (29.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 514,037 people (12.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 1,368,736 people (33.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 4,099,973

📊 Unemployment Rate in Wisconsin

Estimated Rate: 3.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.