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Pierce County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Pierce County, Wisconsin has a population of 42,584, the 35th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $92,109 and the median home value is $333,700. The poverty rate is 9.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Pierce County Quick Facts

Population 42,584
Median Household Income $92,109
Median Home Value $333,700
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.3%
Median Age 38.8 years
Homeownership Rate 75.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 33.5%
High School Graduation 96.3%
Cities/Places 8
Population 42,584 35th of 72
Median Income $92,109 19% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.8%
Unemployment 3.3%

How Pierce County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population42,35142,584+0.6%
Median household income$88,802$92,109+3.7%
Median home value$308,600$333,700+8.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.8%
$25K-$50K 15.5%
$50K-$100K 27.8%
$100K+ 46.9%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.5%
$10K-$15K
1.2%
$15K-$20K
2.8%
$20K-$25K
2.2%
$25K-$30K
2.9%
$30K-$35K
2.6%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
3.0%
$45K-$50K
3.4%
$50K-$60K
7.3%
$60K-$75K
8.6%
$75K-$100K
11.8%
$100K-$125K
13.9%
$125K-$150K
10.1%
$150K-$200K
12.4%
$200K+
10.6%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%
68.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.0%
Renter 25.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,044/mo 13.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

16out of 100
Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Pierce County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Prescott4,503$74,41211.5%$306,900
Ellsworth3,349$87,8578.6%$262,200
Elmwood629$61,56313.7%$172,000
Plum City541$66,07110.5%$168,400
Bay City327$57,8578.9%$116,400
Hager City243$108,3337.4%$268,300
Diamond Bluff192$105,0005.2%$365,400
Maiden Rock85$89,3750.0%$178,600

Population Overview

Pierce County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 42,584. It is the 35th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pierce County is 38.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pierce County is $92,109. This is 19% higher than the state median of $77,485. It is also 14% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. The median home value is $333,700. Housing costs are 25% higher than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pierce County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

33.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about the same as 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 96.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Pierce County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Wisconsin and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Pierce County, Wisconsin?

Pierce County has a population of 42,584, making it the 35th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Pierce County?

The median household income in Pierce County is $92,109 with a poverty rate of 9.8%.

How many cities are in Pierce County, Wisconsin?

Pierce County contains 8 Census-designated places.