City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Beaver Dam, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Beaver Dam - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

16,629
Residents
$68,757
Median income
$189,800
Median home
$1,080
Median rent (state)

Beaver Dam - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Beaver Dam lands in the 48th percentile for household income and the 53rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

48th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
27th
percentile, median rent
53rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Beaver Dam, WI

Wisconsin's Beaver Dam is a small town, with 16,629 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Beaver Dam brings in $68,757 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.0%. Home values in Beaver Dam run a median of $189,800, and the median resident age is 40.6 years. Educational attainment runs 27.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 68.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 34 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 40% from five years earlier. Beaver Dam reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1268.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,080 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Wisconsin run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 21.2 minutes, with 81.0% driving alone and 6.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 69.9 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

16,629 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$68,757 /yr

Poverty 3.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Beaver Dam compare to other US cities?

Where Beaver Dam sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 48% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 27% pricier than other cities
Safety 53% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Wisconsin and the picture shifts: Beaver Dam ranks #128 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Beaver Dam's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

48thIncome percentile
53rdSafety percentile

48th percentile nationally for median household income · 53rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Beaver Dam's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Beaver Dam's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 56 Avg. percentile National median
Beaver Dam's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Beaver Dam's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$189,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Beaver Dam $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Beaver Dam, WI Beaver Dam, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Beaver Dam, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Beaver Dam, WI median $68,757/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Beaver Dam, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Beaver Dam, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
16,629
Median Income
$68,757
Median Home Value
$189,800
Median Age
40.6
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Labor force participation
68.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1268.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
145.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1123.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
16,400 residents16,500 residents16,600 residents16,700 residents16,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 16,727 residents 16,542 residents ▼ -1.1%
Beaver Dam's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
34
housing units authorized
Single-Family
26
detached homes
Multifamily
8
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 57
2020 41
2021 6
2022 9
2023 25
2024 34

Permit volume decreased 40% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.2 minutes
Drive Alone
81.0%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
6.5%
Other
1.4%

Based on 9,261 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Beaver Dam sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,080/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.9 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Menomonie
16,548 people
River Falls
16,349 people
Ashwaubenon
16,931 people
Bellevue
16,255 people
Kaukauna
17,237 people
Pewaukee
16,002 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Beaver Dam's 16,629 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Glen Allen, VA
16,630 people
Myrtle Grove, FL
16,637 people
Chaparral, NM
16,642 people
Berea, SC
16,642 people
Fairburn, GA
16,609 people
Farmingville, NY
16,605 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Beaver Dam's $68,757 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Buffalo Soapstone, AK
$68,750 median income
Friendship, AR
$68,750 median income
Garner, AR
$68,750 median income
Poyen, AR
$68,750 median income
Colusa, CA
$68,750 median income
Yampa, CO
$68,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Beaver Dam, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Beaver Dam, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.2% White 87.0% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 5.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Beaver Dam compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Beaver Dam (this city) 16,629 $68,757
Menomonie 16,548 $54,587
River Falls 16,349 $78,078
Ashwaubenon 16,931 $71,180
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Beaver Dam, WI?

What is the population of Beaver Dam, WI? +

Beaver Dam, WI counts 16,629 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Beaver Dam, WI? +

Beaver Dam households earn a median of $68,757 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Beaver Dam? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Beaver Dam; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is Beaver Dam, WI safe? +

Beaver Dam has a total crime rate of 1268.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Beaver Dam, WI? +

The median home value in Beaver Dam is $189,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.