Waukesha County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Waukesha County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 409,040. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 29 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Waukesha County is 43.3 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Waukesha County is $104,100. This is 38% higher than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% higher. The poverty rate stands at 5.2%. This is 51% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $373,600. Housing costs are 51% higher than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Waukesha County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.6%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.0%.

Education

47.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Waukesha County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 46% higher 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 97.1%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.