Wabeno, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 269, Wabeno's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Wabeno is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Forest County. The total population is 269. It ranks as the 649th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wabeno is 32.9 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 14.9% 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 Wabeno is $36,250. This is 53% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.7%. This is 115% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wabeno is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.4% of the population.

Education

4.0% 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 88% 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 81.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wabeno, 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.