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Lafayette County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Lafayette County, Wisconsin has a population of 16,788, the 58th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $72,091 and the median home value is $182,100. The poverty rate is 10.7%.

Lafayette County Quick Facts

Population 16,788
Median Household Income $72,091
Median Home Value $182,100
Poverty Rate 10.7%
Unemployment Rate 2.5%
Median Age 40.9 years
Homeownership Rate 79.3%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.6%
High School Graduation 91.0%
Cities/Places 10
Population 16,788 58th of 72
Median Income $72,091 5% lower state
Poverty Rate 10.7%
Unemployment 2.5%

Economy & Housing

Employment

2.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
65.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.3%
Renter 20.7%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

17out 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 Lafayette County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Darlington city2,473$62,69512.8%$134,300
Cuba City city2,094$72,4344.7%$176,000
Shullsburg city1,310$58,50012.1%$130,700
Hazel Green village1,070$62,21211.5%$156,100
Belmont village996$82,0007.8%$203,900
Benton village904$63,59410.2%$139,300
Argyle village875$57,42411.3%$125,600
Blanchardville village659$66,1616.1%$165,200
South Wayne village475$64,02814.3%$123,000
Gratiot village215$40,93831.6%$131,300

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

Lafayette County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 16,788. It is the 58th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lafayette County is 40.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lafayette County is $72,091. This is 5% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.7%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $182,100. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Lafayette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lafayette County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 91.0%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lafayette County, Wisconsin?

Lafayette County has a population of 16,788, making it the 58th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Lafayette County?

The median household income in Lafayette County is $72,091 with a poverty rate of 10.7%.

How many cities are in Lafayette County, Wisconsin?

Lafayette County contains 10 Census-designated places.