Gays Mills, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Gays Mills, Wisconsin had a total population of 523, the 533rd largest village in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $40,208, which is 48% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 48% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Gays Mills Quick Facts
How Gays Mills 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 | 577 | 523 | -9.4% |
| Median household income | $35,682 | $40,208 | +12.7% |
| Median home value | $156,900 | $164,500 | +4.8% |
How Gays Mills Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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+)
Gays Mills Rankings in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin Rankings
Other Cities in Crawford County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie du Chien | 5,491 | $54,268 | 17.4% | $161,300 |
| Wauzeka | 591 | $73,333 | 12.2% | $143,300 |
| Soldiers Grove | 579 | $48,438 | 25.4% | $158,300 |
| Eastman | 398 | $62,500 | 8.8% | $197,700 |
| Seneca | 372 | $62,143 | 2.4% | $159,900 |
| Ferryville | 194 | N/A | 10.8% | $230,000 |
| Mount Sterling | 164 | $47,188 | 9.2% | $132,800 |
| Steuben | 148 | $72,188 | 9.5% | $106,300 |
| Lynxville | 105 | $60,625 | 10.8% | $158,300 |
| Bell Center | 82 | $32,250 | 23.2% | $202,800 |
Cities Similar to Gays Mills
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mole Lake | 533 | $38,889 | $128,100 | 3.4% | 29.8% |
| Minocqua | 497 | $41,436 | $475,900 | 22.3% | 27.8% |
| Florence | 488 | $40,368 | $85,700 | 32.8% | 15.0% |
| Wausaukee | 531 | $48,897 | $98,300 | 5.9% | 13.9% |
| Bluffview | 542 | $46,943 | $23,900 | 11.9% | 10.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 523, Gays Mills'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
Gays Mills is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Crawford County. The total population is 523. It ranks as the 533rd most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.
Age Demographics
The median age in Gays Mills is 37.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Gays Mills is $40,208. This is 48% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $164,500. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Gays Mills has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%.
Education
14.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% 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 98.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Gays Mills, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Gays Mills, Wisconsin?
Gays Mills, Wisconsin has a population of 523 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Gays Mills, WI?
The median household income in Gays Mills is $40,208, which is 50% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Gays Mills, WI?
The poverty rate in Gays Mills is 14.0%. This means approximately 73 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Gays Mills, Wisconsin?
Gays Mills's population is 89.5% White, 0.0% Black, 4.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Gays Mills, WI?
The median home value in Gays Mills is $164,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x.
How educated is Gays Mills, Wisconsin?
14.8% of adults (25+) in Gays Mills hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.