Douglas County, Wisconsin Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Douglas County, WI Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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B
Health Around average
-
C
Income Below average
-
D
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,229 | 5,910,864 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 29.9 | 90.2 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.15% | 0.34% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 40.6 | 40.4 | 37.3 |
| Households | 19,160 | 2,477,189 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Douglas County grew by 0.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 44,229 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Douglas County is Gen X, aged 45–60, at 21.3% of residents. That is 0.6 points above Wisconsin as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 8,862 20.0% -1.3 pts
- Millennials 29–44 9,151 20.7% on par
- Gen X 45–60 9,422 21.3% +0.6 pts
- Boomers 61–79 8,882 20.1% +2.2 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Wisconsin, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 50.0% of the people living in Douglas County and men 50.0%.
- Women 50.0% Wisconsin 50.0%
- Men 50.0% Wisconsin 50.0%
How many residents match a customer profile?
Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in Douglas County
Pick an age range and a women/men split and the figure above answers with how many residents that profile reaches.
Economy
Douglas County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,125 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.79% | 4.41% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Douglas County is about 3% lower than in Wisconsin.
Housing
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $148,025 | $170,479 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $909 | $1,087 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.9% | 67.8% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Douglas County is about 13.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $909 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Douglas County spend about 36 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 151 hours, about 6.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.1 | 18.8 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 36.2 | 37.5 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 151 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,670 | $4,846 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,683 | 6,703 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 832 | 811 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Wisconsin:
Ashland County (12.8 min), Door County (13.6 min), Eau Claire County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Oconto County (26.4 min), St. Croix County (25.3 min), Waushara County (23.9 min).
The average commute time in Douglas County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 19 minutes in Wisconsin.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Douglas County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 29.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.24 | 2.33 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
Wisconsin:
Dane County (0.4), Ozaukee County (0.4), Waukesha County (0.4).
Lowest:
Clark County (0.2), Adams County (0.2), Juneau County (0.2).
Health
Douglas County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Douglas County | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.2 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.7% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.8% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Wisconsin:
Dane County (0.8), Waukesha County (0.8), Ozaukee County (0.8).
Lowest:
Menominee County (0.8), Clark County (0.8), Forest County (0.8).
Douglas County, WI Compared With Nearby Counties
How Douglas County, WI compares with the 2 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County, WI | 44,229 | $75,125 #2/3 | $148,025 #3/3 | 18.1 min #1/3 |
| Carlton County, MN | 36,511 | $84,337 | $164,691 | 18.9 min |
| Pine County, MN | 29,640 | $70,962 | $197,727 | 23.2 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Douglas County, Wisconsin.
How big is Douglas County, Wisconsin by population?
About 44,229 people live in Douglas County, Wisconsin, in 19,160 households of 2.2 people on average. The median age is 40.6, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 3 years.
Is Douglas County, Wisconsin urban or rural?
Averaged over its land area, Douglas County, Wisconsin has 30 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 35% of the U.S. average of 86.
Can a typical household afford a home in Douglas County, Wisconsin?
The median home costs 2.0 times the median household income ($148,025 against $75,125), compared with 3.1 times nationally. That is within the traditional rule of thumb of about 3 times income. Median rent of $909 a month takes about 15% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
Is unemployment high in Douglas County, Wisconsin?
Unemployment in Douglas County, Wisconsin is only 3.1%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
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