Wisconsin Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Wisconsin's 5,892,023 residents make it the 20th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +155.4% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 109 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Wisconsin is:

81.3% White (alone)
6.1% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.8% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Wisconsin state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Wisconsin is $75,670, with per-capita income at $42,019. 6.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.2%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Wisconsin: 40.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

Largest Cities in Wisconsin

Milwaukee city — population 569,756
Madison city — population 275,568
Green Bay city — population 106,585
Kenosha city — population 99,147
Racine city — population 77,155

Largest Counties in Wisconsin

Milwaukee County — population 927,656
Dane County — population 564,777
Waukesha County — population 409,040
Brown County — population 269,425
Racine County — population 196,888

How Wisconsin Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 20th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Wisconsin state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Wisconsin has a population of 5,892,023 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 20th among the 50 states. Population density is 109 people per square mile.

Wisconsin is gaining population, with a +155.4% change since 1910 (2,333,860 → 5,892,023). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

81.3% of Wisconsin's population identifies as White, 6.1% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.8% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Wisconsin is $75,670 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $42,019. 6.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Wisconsin is 40.1 years. The population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Wisconsin state page.

The largest cities in Wisconsin by population: Milwaukee city (569,756), Madison city (275,568), Green Bay city (106,585), Kenosha city (99,147), Racine city (77,155).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Wisconsin ranks 20th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Wisconsin's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.