Bayfield County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Name: Bayfield County, Wisconsin Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Bayfield County, Wisconsin has a population of 16,575, the 61st most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $71,151 and the median home value is $240,800. The poverty rate is 9.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Bayfield County Quick Facts

Population 16,575

Median Household Income $71,151

Median Home Value $240,800

Poverty Rate 9.8%

Unemployment Rate 3.6%

Median Age 54.6 years

Homeownership Rate 83.9%

Affordability Ratio 3.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 35.0%

High School Graduation 96.0%

Cities/Places 10

Population 16,575 61st of 72

Median Income $71,151 8% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.8%

Unemployment 3.6%

How Bayfield County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	16,410	16,575	+1.0%
Median household income	$69,609	$71,151	+2.2%
Median home value	$228,100	$240,800	+5.6%

Median Household Income

Bayfield

$71,151

$77,485

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Bayfield

$240,800

$266,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.3%

$25K-$50K 18.6%

$50K-$100K 35.6%

$100K+ 31.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.4%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

2.7%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

4.9%

$30K-$35K

3.7%

$35K-$40K

3.2%

$40K-$45K

3.2%

$45K-$50K

3.6%

$50K-$60K

8.2%

$60K-$75K

11.6%

$75K-$100K

15.8%

$100K-$125K

10.0%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

8.4%

$200K+

6.1%

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%

52.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.9%

Renter 16.1%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $812/mo 13.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.3%

18-34

13.3%

35-54

20.9%

55-74

38.0%

75+

11.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Bayfield County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Washburn	1,884	$62,128	6.7%	$178,900
Iron River	826	$50,536	14.4%	$171,100
Bayfield	565	$70,982	8.5%	$320,100
Cable	207	$33,333	42.0%	$116,200
Port Wing	148	$52,500	28.4%	$162,500
Drummond	141	$68,958	24.8%	$175,000
Grand View	138	$68,750	14.5%	$105,700
Cornucopia	108	$104,375	3.7%	$279,400
Mason	93	$71,667	12.9%	$112,500
Herbster	83	$50,833	19.3%	$275,000

Explore Wisconsin Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Bayfield County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 16,575. It is the 61st most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bayfield County is 54.6 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 11.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bayfield County is $71,151. This is 8% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $240,800. Housing costs are 10% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 83.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bayfield County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

35.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Bayfield County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Wisconsin and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Bayfield County, Wisconsin?

Bayfield County has a population of 16,575, making it the 61st most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Bayfield County?

The median household income in Bayfield County is $71,151 with a poverty rate of 9.8%.

How many cities are in Bayfield County, Wisconsin?

Bayfield County contains 10 Census-designated places.