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Rock County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Rock County, Wisconsin has a population of 164,350, the 9th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $75,673 and the median home value is $231,600. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

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

Rock County Quick Facts

Population 164,350
Median Household Income $75,673
Median Home Value $231,600
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment Rate 3.8%
Median Age 40.3 years
Homeownership Rate 71.2%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 25.8%
High School Graduation 92.6%
Cities/Places 11
Population 164,350 9th of 72
Median Income $75,673 2% lower than state
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment 3.8%

How Rock 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
Population163,944164,350+0.2%
Median household income$74,390$75,673+1.7%
Median home value$215,900$231,600+7.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%
$25K-$50K 18.7%
$50K-$100K 34.9%
$100K+ 33.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.9%
$10K-$15K
2.7%
$15K-$20K
2.6%
$20K-$25K
3.6%
$25K-$30K
3.7%
$30K-$35K
3.8%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
3.6%
$45K-$50K
4.0%
$50K-$60K
7.2%
$60K-$75K
10.9%
$75K-$100K
16.8%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
7.6%
$150K-$200K
9.1%
$200K+
6.6%

Employment

3.8% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%
65.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.2%
Renter 28.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,037/mo 16.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

35out of 100
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 Rock County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Janesville66,030$73,4469.0%$223,400
Beloit36,534$62,66315.0%$156,500
Evansville5,782$81,1495.6%$276,400
Milton5,706$85,9596.5%$249,200
Brodhead3,197$49,58314.9%$168,800
Clinton2,041$72,0195.9%$209,400
Orfordville1,473$65,4178.8%$194,900
Footville908$68,57111.6%$160,800
Hanover130$60,9723.9%$150,000
Shopiere123N/A0.0%$245,800
Fulton31N/A48.4%N/A

Population Overview

Rock County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 164,350. It is the 9th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rock County is 40.3 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rock County is $75,673. This is 2% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 12% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $231,600. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rock County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.1%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

25.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% 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 92.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Rock 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 Rock County, Wisconsin?

Rock County has a population of 164,350, making it the 9th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Rock County?

The median household income in Rock County is $75,673 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Rock County, Wisconsin?

Rock County contains 11 Census-designated places.