Bowler, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 316, Bowler's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Bowler is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Shawano County. The total population is 316. It ranks as the 621st most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bowler is 32.8 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. With 29.8% of the population under 18, Bowler has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bowler is $53,750. This is 31% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 98% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $137,500. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $266,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Bowler is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bowler is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

8.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% lower 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 93.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bowler, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.