Skip to main content

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin had a total population of 5,491, the 147th largest city in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $54,268, which is 30% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.4%.

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

Key Takeaways

Prairie du Chien Quick Facts

Population 5,491
Median Household Income $54,268
Median Home Value $161,300
Poverty Rate 17.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.1%
Median Age 46.7 years
Homeownership Rate 66.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.1%
High School Graduation Rate 92.7%
Diversity Index 17/100
Population 5,491 147th of 808
Median Income $54,268 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 17.4% 39% higher than national
Median Home Value $161,300 below average

How Prairie du Chien 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
Population5,4715,491+0.4%
Median household income$52,670$54,268+3.0%
Median home value$152,100$161,300+6.0%

How Prairie du Chien Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.2%
$25K-$50K 32.9%
$50K-$100K 28.6%
$100K+ 23.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.0%
$10K-$15K
5.2%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
3.3%
$25K-$30K
6.8%
$30K-$35K
6.0%
$35K-$40K
7.2%
$40K-$45K
5.1%
$45K-$50K
7.7%
$50K-$60K
7.6%
$60K-$75K
7.3%
$75K-$100K
13.7%
$100K-$125K
8.1%
$125K-$150K
6.6%
$150K-$200K
5.8%
$200K+
2.8%

Employment

2.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%
48.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.8%
Renter 33.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $795/mo 17.6% of median household income annually

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: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Prairie du Chien Rankings in Wisconsin

#147 Population of 808
#645 Median Income of 788
#521 Education of 808
#528 Home Value of 799

Other Cities in Crawford County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Wauzeka 591 $73,333 12.2% $143,300
Soldiers Grove 579 $48,438 25.4% $158,300
Gays Mills 523 $40,208 14.0% $164,500
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 Prairie du Chien

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Berlin5,562$59,472$160,30016.2%16.0%
North Fond du Lac5,392$62,832$155,10014.9%12.3%
Richland Center5,109$51,932$158,30018.6%16.0%
Waupaca6,283$52,727$175,60023.9%11.5%
Mayville5,228$66,834$193,00019.3%6.6%

Population Overview

Prairie du Chien is a small city located in Wisconsin, within Crawford County. The total population is 5,491. It ranks as the 147th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Prairie du Chien is 46.7 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 12.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Prairie du Chien is $54,268. This is 30% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $161,300. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Prairie du Chien has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 92.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Prairie du Chien, 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.

Free data download: Get all Wisconsin city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin?

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin has a population of 5,491 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Prairie du Chien, WI?

The median household income in Prairie du Chien is $54,268, which is 33% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Prairie du Chien, WI?

The poverty rate in Prairie du Chien is 17.4%. This means approximately 820 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin?

Prairie du Chien's population is 91.1% White, 3.1% Black, 2.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Prairie du Chien, WI?

The median home value in Prairie du Chien is $161,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.

How educated is Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin?

16.1% of adults (25+) in Prairie du Chien hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.