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Waukesha County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a population of 411,762, the 3rd most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $106,076 and the median home value is $398,200. The poverty rate is 5.2%.

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

Waukesha County Quick Facts

Population 411,762
Median Household Income $106,076
Median Home Value $398,200
Poverty Rate 5.2%
Unemployment Rate 2.3%
Median Age 43.5 years
Homeownership Rate 76.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 48.9%
High School Graduation 97.2%
Cities/Places 28
Population 411,762 3rd of 72
Median Income $106,076 37% higher than state
Poverty Rate 5.2%
Unemployment 2.3%

How Waukesha County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population409,040411,762+0.7%
Median household income$104,100$106,076+1.9%
Median home value$373,600$398,200+6.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.2%
$25K-$50K 12.6%
$50K-$100K 26.1%
$100K+ 53.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.4%
$10K-$15K
1.6%
$15K-$20K
1.8%
$20K-$25K
2.3%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
2.3%
$35K-$40K
2.4%
$40K-$45K
2.9%
$45K-$50K
2.5%
$50K-$60K
5.7%
$60K-$75K
8.0%
$75K-$100K
12.5%
$100K-$125K
11.8%
$125K-$150K
9.7%
$150K-$200K
13.0%
$200K+
18.6%

Employment

2.3% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3%|National: 5.2%
66.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.0%
Renter 24.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,356/mo 15.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

27out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 37 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Waukesha County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Waukesha71,233$83,8379.8%$315,500
Brookfield41,273$129,5483.2%$443,900
New Berlin40,270$101,0914.1%$365,700
Menomonee Falls39,539$100,2385.2%$368,000
Muskego25,406$112,2213.0%$417,400
Oconomowoc19,080$106,4257.7%$394,500
Pewaukee16,211$108,3503.7%$447,100
Sussex12,066$119,0414.5%$430,600
Hartland9,972$87,7545.2%$393,100
Mukwonago8,415$98,2734.2%$366,200
Pewaukee8,196$62,1397.3%$281,800
Delafield7,202$94,8065.7%$555,800
Elm Grove6,459$158,0164.4%$510,400
Summit5,114$140,6825.0%$533,300
Okauchee Lake4,733$131,1702.3%$497,500
Merton3,550$173,9136.7%$575,800
Wales2,902$109,0244.3%$399,400
Dousman2,479$96,5135.0%$392,800
North Prairie2,385$152,7982.8%$424,100
Eagle2,054$112,0832.9%$331,900
Butler1,859$60,00011.8%$244,700
Lannon1,482$83,8891.4%$260,000
Nashotah1,354$148,4031.1%$483,300
Big Bend1,291$134,6153.2%$323,500
Chenequa742$223,7503.2%$1,402,800
Oconomowoc Lake669$250,000+3.6%$1,210,900
North Lake348$67,32111.8%$384,400
Lac La Belle259$213,9580.8%$1,312,500

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

Waukesha County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 411,762. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 28 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Waukesha County is 43.5 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Waukesha County is $106,076. This is 37% higher than the state median of $77,485. It is also 31% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.2%. This is 50% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $398,200. Housing costs are 49% higher than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Waukesha County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.7%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.9%.

Education

48.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Waukesha County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 46% higher 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 97.2%. Notably, 16.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Waukesha 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 Waukesha County, Wisconsin?

Waukesha County has a population of 411,762, making it the 3rd most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Waukesha County?

The median household income in Waukesha County is $106,076 with a poverty rate of 5.2%.

How many cities are in Waukesha County, Wisconsin?

Waukesha County contains 28 Census-designated places.