City · Wisconsin

Baraboo, Wisconsin

Baraboo, city, in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Baraboo had 13,224 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,556 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,769 (±31). GEOID 5504625.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

13,224

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,556 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,769 ±31

Median household income

$69,750

±$9,019 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$222,100

±$12,202 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$940

±$51 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

Where is Baraboo and what county is it in?

Baraboo is a city in Sauk County, Wisconsin. It covers 7.6 square miles of land, 1,661 residents per square mile in 2020.

Baraboo is in the Baraboo, WI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Baraboo (marked with a dot) in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Baraboo, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 13,224 people lived in Baraboo on July 1, 2025, up 5.4% since 2020, faster than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 12,556 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,769 (±31).

  • July 2020→2021 +134 (12,667)
  • 2021→2022 −29 (12,638)
  • 2022→2023 +233 (12,871)
  • 2023→2024 +236 (13,107)
  • 2024→2025 +117 (13,224)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure BarabooSauk CountyWisconsin Change since 2015-2019
Total population 12,769 ±31 66,009 5,914,872 +631
Households 6,108 ±306 27,987 2,479,480 +744
Average household size 2.05 ±0.10 2.33 2.33 −0.14
Housing units 6,464 ±309 31,496 2,778,572 +776

Baraboo's population since 2000

From 10,711 in 2000 to 13,224 in 2025: up 23.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Baraboo as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 10,711
  • 2005 (estimate) 11,466
  • 2010 Census 12,048
  • 2015 (estimate) 12,088
  • 2020 Census 12,556
  • 2025 (estimate) 13,224

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Baraboo?

The median resident of Baraboo is 40.4 years old; 18.2% are under 18 and 20.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.5%. 2.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure BarabooSauk CountyWisconsin Change since 2015-2019
Median age 40.4 ±0.9 41.6 40.2 no clear change
Under 18 years 18.2% ±1.8 pts 22.3% 21.4% –
65 years and over 20.4% ±2.3 pts 19.9% 18.5% –
Male 47.7% ±2.4 pts 50.2% 50.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.5% ±1.4 pts 6.8% 8.0% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 87.7% ±3.0 pts 86.3% 78.6% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±0.4 pts 0.8% 5.9% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±0.4 pts 0.4% 2.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±0.3 pts 0.5% 0.5% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.2 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 6.5% ±2.2 pts 4.4% 3.7% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±0.8 pts 0.8% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 2.1% ±0.8 pts 3.9% 5.2% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 5.4% ±1.6 pts 8.1% 9.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 9.2% ±2.0 pts 7.0% 6.2% –
With a disability 16.8% ±2.7 pts 13.0% 12.3% –
No health insurance coverage 3.4% ±1.3 pts 6.0% 5.2% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 92.5% ±2.4 pts 92.6% 93.6% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 25.9% ±3.6 pts 27.3% 33.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 6.4% ±1.9 pts 8.2% 11.4% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 87.6% ±3.6 pts 90.1% 88.2% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.5% ±1.3 pts 1.1% 2.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Baraboo earn?

Half of Baraboo's 6,108 households earn less than $69,750 a year (±$9,019), against $79,541 in Sauk County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $64,130 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure BarabooSauk CountyWisconsin Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $69,750 ±$9,019 $79,541 $77,485 no clear change
Mean household income $84,393 ±$6,458 $98,005 $101,466 –
Per capita income $39,597 ±$2,181 $41,246 $43,373 no clear change
People below the poverty line 8.4% ±1.9 pts 8.1% 10.6% −5.6 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 6.4% ±5.1 pts 8.6% 12.8% –
Households receiving SNAP 13.3% ±3.8 pts 10.1% 11.1% –
Households with a computer 94.1% ±2.5 pts 94.3% 94.7% –
Households with a broadband subscription 87.9% ±3.3 pts 88.5% 90.3% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Baraboo?

Owners occupy 62.8% of Baraboo's occupied homes and renters 37.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,100 by its owner (±$12,202). The median renter pays $940 a month including utilities, and 38.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure BarabooSauk CountyWisconsin Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $222,100 ±$12,202 $258,600 $266,500 +$34,296
Median gross rent $940 ±$51 $1,018 $1,087 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 38.1% ±8.2 pts 31.8% 35.0% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,545 ±$152 $1,646 $1,689 –
Owner-occupied homes 62.8% ±4.4 pts 72.4% 67.8% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 37.2% ±4.4 pts 27.6% 32.2% –
Housing units 6,464 ±309 31,496 2,778,572 +776
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±0.6 pts 0.6% 0.5% –
Rental vacancy rate 1.9% ±2.2 pts 5.3% 4.5% –
Single-family detached homes 57.6% ±4.5 pts 69.2% 66.2% –
Mobile homes 6.6% ±2.2 pts 6.8% 3.1% –
Built 2020 or later 0.3% ±0.3 pts 1.3% 1.4% –
Built 2010 to 2019 4.9% ±1.8 pts 7.0% 7.1% –
Built 1939 or earlier 26.7% ±3.8 pts 18.7% 17.8% –
Households with no vehicle 8.3% ±2.8 pts 5.1% 6.4% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Baraboo building?

Builders took permits for 32 new housing units in Baraboo in 2025 (18 in single-family houses), 2.4 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.

  • 2019 11 units
  • 2020 8 units
  • 2021 152 units
  • 2022 19 units
  • 2023 151 units
  • 2024 157 units
  • 2025 32 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Baraboo work and get to work?

76.0% of Baraboo's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure BarabooSauk CountyWisconsin Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 66.2% ±2.8 pts 66.8% 65.3% –
Unemployment rate 2.9% ±1.5 pts 2.3% 3.2% −3.5 pts
Drove alone to work 76.0% ±3.8 pts 77.0% 74.4% –
Carpooled 10.4% ±3.7 pts 9.0% 7.3% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% 1.1% –
Walked 3.5% ±1.6 pts 2.4% 2.6% –
Worked from home 8.6% ±3.4 pts 9.6% 13.1% +6.0 pts
Mean travel time to work 21.6 min ±1.9 23.0 min 22.2 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Baraboo?

4 census tracts lie mostly in Baraboo, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $61,162 (Tract 3.01) to $84,615 (Tract 3.02).

Census tracts in Baraboo, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Baraboo
Tract 4.01Sauk County5,343 $77,663 $272,60079%
Tract 3.01Sauk County3,621 $61,162 $191,20080%
Tract 4.02Sauk County3,707 $77,857 $238,20073%
Tract 3.03Sauk County2,252 $71,550 $240,70035%
Tract 3.02Sauk County1,271 $84,615 $200,90053%
Tract 1.01Sauk County1,538 $84,704 $323,0001%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Baraboo) · Census block assignment files

How does Baraboo compare with other places in Wisconsin?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Baraboo is the 2,642nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 74th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.

Baraboo ranks 705th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Baraboo's rank in Wisconsin (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate74th608
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)91st884
Residents per square mile91st914
Median household income705th914
Per capita income601st911
Median home value657th913
Median gross rent490th825
Poverty rate298th706
Bachelor's degree or higher487th914
Median age668th914
Owner-occupied share780th914
Work from home607th827
Travel time to work607th914

Baraboo's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)

Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Baraboo with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Baraboo?

9 of the 57 figures for Baraboo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Baraboo are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Baraboo.