Skip to main content

Jefferson County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Jefferson County, Wisconsin has a population of 85,867, the 20th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $80,604 and the median home value is $253,800. The poverty rate is 8.1%.

Jefferson County Quick Facts

Population 85,867
Median Household Income $80,604
Median Home Value $253,800
Poverty Rate 8.1%
Unemployment Rate 3.3%
Median Age 41.3 years
Homeownership Rate 72.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 28.1%
High School Graduation 92.9%
Cities/Places 9
Population 85,867 20th of 72
Median Income $80,604 7% higher state
Poverty Rate 8.1%
Unemployment 3.3%

Economy & Housing

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
68.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.9%
Renter 27.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

23out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Jefferson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Watertown city22,873$68,33310.0%$211,500
Fort Atkinson city12,490$75,3507.1%$198,600
Jefferson city7,722$77,09510.3%$222,100
Lake Mills city6,391$87,0394.9%$282,400
Waterloo city3,542$78,10316.1%$219,100
Johnson Creek village3,367$94,5523.4%$289,000
Palmyra village2,042$80,70911.3%$194,200
Cambridge village1,507$93,4246.4%$280,000
Sullivan village711$82,50023.0%$244,500

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

Jefferson County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 85,867. It is the 20th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 41.3 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $80,604. This is 7% higher than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.1%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $253,800. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Jefferson County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.4%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 92.9%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

Jefferson County has a population of 85,867, making it the 20th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Jefferson County?

The median household income in Jefferson County is $80,604 with a poverty rate of 8.1%.

How many cities are in Jefferson County, Wisconsin?

Jefferson County contains 9 Census-designated places.