City · Wisconsin
Darlington, Wisconsin
Darlington, city, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Darlington had 2,490 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,462 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,409 (±298). GEOID 5518875.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,490
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,462 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,409 ±298
Median household income
$56,641
±$12,757 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$155,100
±$18,941 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$873
±$42 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Darlington and what county is it in?
Darlington is a city in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. It covers 1.7 square miles of land, 1,453 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Darlington, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,490 people lived in Darlington on July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, in line with Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 2,462 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,409 (±298).
| Measure | Darlington | Lafayette County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,409 ±298 | 16,942 | no clear change |
| Households | 901 ±99 | 6,763 | −140 |
| Average household size | 2.61 ±0.23 | 2.49 | +0.35 |
| Housing units | 999 ±101 | 7,234 | −130 |
Darlington's population since 2000
From 2,418 in 2000 to 2,490 in 2025: up 3.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Darlington 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.
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 Darlington?
The median resident of Darlington is 31.7 years old; 31.5% are under 18 and 22.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 73.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 22.3%. 18.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Darlington | Lafayette County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.7 ±3.8 | 40.8 | −8.6 |
| Under 18 years | 31.5% ±5.8 pts | 25.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.0% ±4.0 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Male | 53.6% ±4.9 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.3% ±8.4 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 73.6% ±8.2 pts | 89.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 18.1% ±8.0 pts | 4.2% | +10.7 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.8% ±8.4 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.5% ±3.7 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 11.3% ±3.9 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 16.8% ±7.2 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.1% ±5.1 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.4% ±5.0 pts | 22.6% | +9.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.2% ±2.4 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.9% ±2.6 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±1.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Darlington earn?
Half of Darlington's 901 households earn less than $56,641 a year (±$12,757), against $76,462 in Lafayette County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $66,765 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Darlington | Lafayette County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,641 ±$12,757 | $76,462 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,094 ±$10,241 | $92,228 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,688 ±$4,667 | $37,123 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.1% ±10.2 pts | 11.9% | +12.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 40.4% ±21.5 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.3% ±4.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.8% ±3.7 pts | 88.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.7% ±5.7 pts | 82.2% | – |
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 Darlington?
Owners occupy 68.4% of Darlington's occupied homes and renters 31.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $155,100 by its owner (±$18,941). The median renter pays $873 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Darlington | Lafayette County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $155,100 ±$18,941 | $194,500 | +$32,400 |
| Median gross rent | $873 ±$42 | $830 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.1% ±16.9 pts | 27.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,454 ±$164 | $1,530 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.4% ±6.4 pts | 80.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 31.6% ±6.4 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Housing units | 999 ±101 | 7,234 | −130 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.1% ±12.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.8% ±7.0 pts | 84.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.0% ±3.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±4.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.4% ±5.9 pts | 32.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 5.0% | – |
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 Darlington building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Darlington in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.8 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
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 Darlington work and get to work?
70.8% of Darlington's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.3 minutes.
| Measure | Darlington | Lafayette County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.4% ±4.4 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.0% ±5.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.8% ±7.7 pts | 75.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±4.8 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 7.1% ±2.5 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.5% ±7.6 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.3 min ±2.8 | 24.7 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 Darlington?
No census tract lies mostly in Darlington; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9702Lafayette County | 3,910 | $65,268 |
| Tract 9705Lafayette County | 3,332 | $81,920 |
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 Darlington) · Census block assignment files
How does Darlington compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Darlington is the 6,917th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 241st-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Darlington ranks 846th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 241st | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 360th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 117th | 914 |
| Median household income | 846th | 914 |
| Per capita income | 861st | 911 |
| Median home value | 856th | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 589th | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 16th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 509th | 914 |
| Median age | 892nd | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 710th | 914 |
| Work from home | 359th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 695th | 914 |
Darlington's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Darlington 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 Darlington?
14 of the 57 figures for Darlington 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 Darlington 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 Darlington.