Sawyer County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

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

Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a population of 18,476, the 56th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $60,801 and the median home value is $236,200. The poverty rate is 15.6%.

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

Sawyer County Quick Facts

Population 18,476

Median Household Income $60,801

Median Home Value $236,200

Poverty Rate 15.6%

Unemployment Rate 6.0%

Median Age 52.8 years

Homeownership Rate 76.7%

Affordability Ratio 3.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 27.4%

High School Graduation 93.8%

Cities/Places 10

Population 18,476 56th of 72

Median Income $60,801 22% lower than state

Poverty Rate 15.6%

Unemployment 6.0%

How Sawyer 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	18,243	18,476	+1.3%
Median household income	$59,055	$60,801	+3.0%
Median home value	$223,300	$236,200	+5.8%

Median Household Income

Sawyer

$60,801

$77,485

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sawyer

$236,200

$266,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.6%

$25K-$50K 22.4%

$50K-$100K 32.1%

$100K+ 25.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.8%

$10K-$15K

4.1%

$15K-$20K

4.6%

$20K-$25K

5.0%

$25K-$30K

4.0%

$30K-$35K

4.4%

$35K-$40K

4.9%

$40K-$45K

4.9%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

7.4%

$60K-$75K

9.5%

$75K-$100K

15.2%

$100K-$125K

8.6%

$125K-$150K

5.4%

$150K-$200K

5.8%

$200K+

6.1%

Employment

6.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%

52.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.7%

Renter 23.3%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $712/mo 14.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.4%

18-34

15.5%

35-54

20.4%

55-74

36.2%

75+

10.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

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 Sawyer County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hayward	2,555	$45,665	22.1%	$184,700
Little Round Lake	1,295	$37,535	28.0%	N/A
Chief Lake	660	$70,833	23.3%	$215,000
New Post	340	$50,000	11.2%	$326,600
Winter	285	$41,204	25.3%	$87,900
Reserve	252	$38,036	27.0%	$216,700
Radisson	234	$41,625	35.6%	$80,700
Exeland	193	$31,713	29.0%	$110,400
Stone Lake	127	$43,393	21.3%	$193,400
Couderay	118	$54,271	19.5%	$78,000

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

Sawyer County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 18,476. It is the 56th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sawyer County is 52.8 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.6% 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 Sawyer County is $60,801. This is 22% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 84% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $236,200. Housing costs are 11% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 76.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sawyer County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 8.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

27.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sawyer 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 Sawyer County, Wisconsin?

Sawyer County has a population of 18,476, making it the 56th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Sawyer County?

The median household income in Sawyer County is $60,801 with a poverty rate of 15.6%.

How many cities are in Sawyer County, Wisconsin?

Sawyer County contains 10 Census-designated places.