Forest County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Forest County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 9,261. It is the 68th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forest County is 49.1 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Forest County is $59,727. This is 21% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $170,000. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Forest County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Forest County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.7%.