Town · Wisconsin

Town of Dayton, Waupaca County, Wisconsin

Dayton (town), Waupaca County, town, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Dayton (town), Waupaca County had 2,608 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,644 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,627 (±26). GEOID 5513519025.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,608

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,644 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,627 ±26

Median household income

$91,645

±$12,857 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$254,400

±$43,907 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$858

±$23 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

Where is Dayton (town), Waupaca County and what county is it in?

Dayton (town), Waupaca County is a town in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. It covers 35.1 square miles of land, 75 residents per square mile in 2020.

One place lies inside the Town of Dayton (Waupaca County): Chain O' Lakes (CDP, 1,124 in 2020).

Dayton (town), Waupaca County (marked with a dot) in Waupaca 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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,608 people lived in Dayton (town), Waupaca County on July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 2,644 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,627 (±26).

  • July 2020→2021 −14 (2,616)
  • 2021→2022 +4 (2,620)
  • 2022→2023 +2 (2,622)
  • 2023→2024 −5 (2,617)
  • 2024→2025 −9 (2,608)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureDayton (town), Waupaca CountyWaupaca CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,627±2651,5695,914,872−71
Households1,223±11822,5712,479,480no clear change
Average household size2.14±0.212.232.33no clear change
Housing units1,655±15825,7912,778,572no clear change

Dayton (town), Waupaca County's population since 2000

From 2,734 in 2000 to 2,608 in 2025: down 4.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Dayton (town), Waupaca County 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 2,734
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,777
  • 2010 Census 2,748
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,713
  • 2020 Census 2,644
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,608

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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County?

The median resident of Dayton (town), Waupaca County is 50.7 years old; 17.3% are under 18 and 23.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.8%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureDayton (town), Waupaca CountyWaupaca CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median age50.7±5.245.340.2no clear change
Under 18 years17.3%±4.5 pts20.1%21.4%–
65 years and over23.6%±5.3 pts21.3%18.5%–
Male54.5%±3.6 pts51.0%50.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1.3%±1.3 pts3.9%8.0%–
White alone, not Hispanic92.4%±4.0 pts92.4%78.6%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic2.5%±2.4 pts0.5%5.9%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.3%2.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.2%0.5%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic3.8%±3.0 pts2.6%3.7%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.9 pts0.2%0.3%–
Born outside the United States1.0%±0.7 pts1.3%5.2%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)0.7%±0.8 pts3.7%9.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)6.4%±2.1 pts7.6%6.2%–
With a disability11.5%±2.5 pts14.4%12.3%–
No health insurance coverage8.1%±4.2 pts5.9%5.2%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)96.0%±2.3 pts92.5%93.6%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)34.1%±5.8 pts20.5%33.4%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)11.0%±3.5 pts5.6%11.4%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier94.6%±2.2 pts90.8%88.2%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.3%±0.4 pts0.7%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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County earn?

Half of Dayton (town), Waupaca County's 1,223 households earn less than $91,645 a year (±$12,857), against $72,830 in Waupaca County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $79,146 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.1% 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
MeasureDayton (town), Waupaca CountyWaupaca CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$91,645±$12,857$72,830$77,485no clear change
Mean household income$120,370±$21,376$93,820$101,466–
Per capita income$55,423±$9,572$41,606$43,373no clear change
People below the poverty line5.1%±1.9 pts10.4%10.6%−7.9 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line0.7%±1.3 pts13.3%12.8%–
Households receiving SNAP4.7%±2.5 pts10.0%11.1%–
Households with a computer95.3%±2.5 pts92.7%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription85.9%±5.8 pts86.8%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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County?

Owners occupy 86.8% of Dayton (town), Waupaca County's occupied homes and renters 13.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $254,400 by its owner (±$43,907). The median renter pays $858 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureDayton (town), Waupaca CountyWaupaca CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$254,400±$43,907$211,400$266,500no clear change
Median gross rent$858±$23$852$1,087−$172
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent12.3%±13.6 pts35.8%35.0%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,643±$145$1,449$1,689–
Owner-occupied homes86.8%±6.0 pts75.3%67.8%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes13.2%±6.0 pts24.7%32.2%–
Housing units1,655±15825,7912,778,572no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate1.7%±2.7 pts0.4%0.5%–
Rental vacancy rate2.4%±3.9 pts2.5%4.5%–
Single-family detached homes87.9%±4.8 pts77.7%66.2%–
Mobile homes5.1%±3.2 pts4.8%3.1%–
Built 2020 or later0.2%±0.4 pts0.8%1.4%–
Built 2010 to 20199.0%±3.9 pts5.1%7.1%–
Built 1939 or earlier10.9%±6.1 pts22.0%17.8%–
Households with no vehicle5.9%±3.0 pts5.9%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 do people in Dayton (town), Waupaca County work and get to work?

80.1% of Dayton (town), Waupaca County's workers drive alone and 9.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureDayton (town), Waupaca CountyWaupaca CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)68.4%±4.0 pts61.5%65.3%–
Unemployment rate2.2%±1.4 pts2.8%3.2%–
Drove alone to work80.1%±6.7 pts81.2%74.4%–
Carpooled9.3%±4.5 pts6.7%7.3%–
Public transportation0.0%±1.6 pts0.1%1.1%–
Walked0.9%±1.0 pts2.9%2.6%–
Worked from home9.5%±4.8 pts7.9%13.1%no clear change
Mean travel time to work24.2 min±2.924.9 min22.2 minno 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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County?

1 census tract lies mostly in Dayton (town), Waupaca County, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Dayton (town), Waupaca County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Dayton (town), Waupaca County
Tract 1006Waupaca County4,805 $82,733 $231,80051%
Tract 1005Waupaca County3,097 $66,688 $243,0001%
Tract 1010Waupaca County5,706 $60,509 $178,7000%

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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County) · Census block assignment files

How does Dayton (town), Waupaca County compare with other places in Wisconsin?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Dayton (town), Waupaca County is the 3,985th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 123rd-most populous of 1,239 in Wisconsin.

Dayton (town), Waupaca County ranks 370th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Dayton (town), Waupaca County's rank in Wisconsin (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate123rd1,239
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)687th884
Residents per square mile515th914
Median household income370th914
Per capita income116th911
Median home value541st913
Median gross rent616th825
Poverty rate505th706
Bachelor's degree or higher252nd914
Median age204th914
Owner-occupied share431st914
Work from home556th827
Travel time to work424th914

Dayton (town), Waupaca County's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)

Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Dayton (town), Waupaca County 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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County?

17 of the 57 figures for Dayton (town), Waupaca County 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 Dayton (town), Waupaca County 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' school search.