Rusk County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Name: Rusk County, Wisconsin Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Rusk County, Wisconsin has a population of 14,179, the 65th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $59,944 and the median home value is $163,400. The poverty rate is 13.1%.

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

Rusk County Quick Facts

Population 14,179

Median Household Income $59,944

Median Home Value $163,400

Poverty Rate 13.1%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Median Age 49.2 years

Homeownership Rate 77.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.9%

High School Graduation 92.9%

Cities/Places 9

Population 14,179 65th of 72

Median Income $59,944 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.1%

Unemployment 5.4%

How Rusk County Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	14,146	14,179	+0.2%
Median household income	$58,322	$59,944	+2.8%
Median home value	$152,000	$163,400	+7.5%

Median Household Income

Rusk

$59,944

$77,485

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Rusk

$163,400

$266,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.1%

$25K-$50K 21.9%

$50K-$100K 35.1%

$100K+ 24.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

5.3%

$15K-$20K

4.1%

$20K-$25K

5.5%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

5.0%

$35K-$40K

5.2%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

3.4%

$50K-$60K

10.1%

$60K-$75K

9.8%

$75K-$100K

15.2%

$100K-$125K

9.6%

$125K-$150K

5.9%

$150K-$200K

6.5%

$200K+

2.9%

Employment

5.4% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%

55.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.9%

Renter 22.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $874/mo 17.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.0%

18-34

15.9%

35-54

21.8%

55-74

31.9%

75+

10.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Rusk County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Ladysmith	3,227	$41,719	19.0%	$124,200
Bruce	900	$52,667	16.9%	$87,100
Hawkins	322	$41,250	16.5%	$72,500
Sheldon	220	$37,315	15.0%	$118,400
Weyerhaeuser	161	$61,250	19.3%	$95,000
Tony	123	$81,250	7.3%	$85,000
Glen Flora	89	$68,750	18.0%	$115,000
Conrath	70	N/A	1.4%	$153,100
Ingram	44	$48,750	13.6%	$97,500

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

Rusk County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 14,179. It is the 65th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rusk County is 49.2 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.4% 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 Rusk County is $59,944. This is 23% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $163,400. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $266,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Rusk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rusk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 49% 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 92.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Rusk 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 Rusk County, Wisconsin?

Rusk County has a population of 14,179, making it the 65th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Rusk County?

The median household income in Rusk County is $59,944 with a poverty rate of 13.1%.

How many cities are in Rusk County, Wisconsin?

Rusk County contains 9 Census-designated places.