Washburn County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

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

Washburn County, Wisconsin has a population of 16,854, the 60th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $63,441 and the median home value is $226,100. The poverty rate is 11.6%.

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

Washburn County Quick Facts

Population 16,854

Median Household Income $63,441

Median Home Value $226,100

Poverty Rate 11.6%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 52.7 years

Homeownership Rate 82.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.5%

High School Graduation 94.0%

Cities/Places 6

Population 16,854 60th of 72

Median Income $63,441 18% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.6%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Washburn 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	16,749	16,854	+0.6%
Median household income	$61,270	$63,441	+3.5%
Median home value	$207,900	$226,100	+8.8%

Median Household Income

Washburn

$63,441

$77,485

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Washburn

$226,100

$266,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.8%

$25K-$50K 22.0%

$50K-$100K 32.3%

$100K+ 29.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

4.1%

$15K-$20K

3.5%

$20K-$25K

3.3%

$25K-$30K

3.5%

$30K-$35K

7.3%

$35K-$40K

4.0%

$40K-$45K

3.6%

$45K-$50K

3.7%

$50K-$60K

9.7%

$60K-$75K

9.7%

$75K-$100K

13.0%

$100K-$125K

10.9%

$125K-$150K

6.5%

$150K-$200K

6.9%

$200K+

5.6%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%

53.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.2%

Renter 17.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $795/mo 15.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.0%

18-34

14.0%

35-54

21.4%

55-74

36.2%

75+

10.5%

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 Washburn County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Spooner	2,278	$44,737	21.6%	$165,500
Shell Lake	1,459	$57,500	8.9%	$229,400
Minong	678	$31,875	31.1%	$133,600
Birchwood	451	$54,091	12.3%	$141,900
Trego	142	$51,250	10.6%	$151,400
Springbrook	77	$44,375	33.8%	$107,100

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

Washburn County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 16,854. It is the 60th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washburn County is 52.7 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.5% 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 Washburn County is $63,441. This is 18% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 21% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $226,100. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 82.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Washburn County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) 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 (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

25.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 94.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Washburn 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 Washburn County, Wisconsin?

Washburn County has a population of 16,854, making it the 60th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Washburn County?

The median household income in Washburn County is $63,441 with a poverty rate of 11.6%.

How many cities are in Washburn County, Wisconsin?

Washburn County contains 6 Census-designated places.