Rusk County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rusk County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 14,146. 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 49.1 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rusk County is $58,322. This is 23% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 26% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $152,000. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Rusk County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rusk County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

16.3% 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 50% 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 92.3%.