Town · Wisconsin

Town of Dewey, Rusk County, Wisconsin

Dewey (town), Rusk County, town, in Rusk County, Wisconsin. Dewey (town), Rusk County had 554 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 542 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 482 (±71). GEOID 5510720000.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

554

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 542 · ACS 2020-2024: 482 ±71

Median household income

$83,750

±$7,217 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$221,300

±$10,060 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$522

±$145 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

Where is Dewey (town), Rusk County and what county is it in?

Dewey (town), Rusk County is a town in Rusk County, Wisconsin. It covers 31.1 square miles of land, 17 residents per square mile in 2020.

Dewey (town), Rusk County (marked with a dot) in Rusk 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 Dewey (town), Rusk County, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 554 people lived in Dewey (town), Rusk County on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, faster than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 542 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 482 (±71).

  • July 2020→2021 −1 (541)
  • 2021→2022 +1 (542)
  • 2022→2023 +4 (546)
  • 2023→2024 +2 (548)
  • 2024→2025 +6 (554)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureDewey (town), Rusk CountyRusk CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Total population482±7114,1795,914,872no clear change
Households247±406,3552,479,480no clear change
Average household size1.95±0.172.202.33−0.43
Housing units398±568,6632,778,572no clear change

Dewey (town), Rusk County's population since 2000

From 523 in 2000 to 554 in 2025: up 5.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Dewey (town), Rusk 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 523
  • 2005 (estimate) 528
  • 2010 Census 545
  • 2015 (estimate) 525
  • 2020 Census 542
  • 2025 (estimate) 554

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 Dewey (town), Rusk County?

The median resident of Dewey (town), Rusk County is 55.6 years old; 15.8% are under 18 and 39.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 99.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of some other race at 0.4%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureDewey (town), Rusk CountyRusk CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median age55.6±8.449.240.2no clear change
Under 18 years15.8%±4.0 pts20.0%21.4%–
65 years and over39.2%±6.6 pts26.0%18.5%–
Male53.1%±4.5 pts51.5%50.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±4.6 pts2.1%8.0%–
White alone, not Hispanic99.4%±0.8 pts93.1%78.6%+4.6 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±4.6 pts1.2%5.9%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±4.6 pts0.4%2.9%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±4.6 pts0.3%0.5%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±4.6 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic0.2%±0.8 pts2.8%3.7%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.4%±0.4 pts0.2%0.3%–
Born outside the United States0.6%±0.7 pts1.1%5.2%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)0.6%±0.7 pts2.4%9.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)13.5%±4.3 pts9.0%6.2%–
With a disability16.8%±4.7 pts17.3%12.3%–
No health insurance coverage3.1%±2.8 pts5.7%5.2%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)96.0%±2.7 pts92.9%93.6%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)18.5%±5.5 pts16.9%33.4%−8.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)7.5%±2.9 pts4.5%11.4%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier95.0%±3.1 pts91.5%88.2%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.3%±1.4 pts2.2%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 Dewey (town), Rusk County earn?

Half of Dewey (town), Rusk County's 247 households earn less than $83,750 a year (±$7,217), against $59,944 in Rusk County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $76,303 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.1% 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
MeasureDewey (town), Rusk CountyRusk CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$83,750±$7,217$59,944$77,485no clear change
Mean household income$103,709±$17,791$73,376$101,466–
Per capita income$50,671±$7,519$33,309$43,373no clear change
People below the poverty line7.1%±3.7 pts13.1%10.6%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line15.3%±14.6 pts20.6%12.8%–
Households receiving SNAP6.9%±4.5 pts16.2%11.1%–
Households with a computer93.5%±4.3 pts90.0%94.7%–
Households with a broadband subscription85.4%±5.2 pts84.9%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 Dewey (town), Rusk County?

Owners occupy 90.3% of Dewey (town), Rusk County's occupied homes and renters 9.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $221,300 by its owner (±$10,060). The median renter pays $522 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureDewey (town), Rusk CountyRusk CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$221,300±$10,060$163,400$266,500no clear change
Median gross rent$522±$145$874$1,087−$442
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent0.0%±55.2 pts34.4%35.0%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,602±$294$1,260$1,689–
Owner-occupied homes90.3%±6.0 pts77.9%67.8%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes9.7%±6.0 pts22.1%32.2%–
Housing units398±568,6632,778,572no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.9%±1.0 pts0.4%0.5%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±50.4 pts3.4%4.5%–
Single-family detached homes89.4%±5.5 pts84.0%66.2%–
Mobile homes10.6%±5.5 pts8.3%3.1%–
Built 2020 or later2.5%±2.9 pts0.8%1.4%–
Built 2010 to 20194.3%±2.4 pts6.2%7.1%–
Built 1939 or earlier11.3%±3.9 pts16.6%17.8%–
Households with no vehicle3.6%±3.8 pts5.4%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 Dewey (town), Rusk County building?

Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Dewey (town), Rusk County in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 7.2 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.

  • 2019 2 units
  • 2020 4 units
  • 2021 2 units
  • 2022 3 units
  • 2023 4 units
  • 2024 7 units
  • 2025 4 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 Dewey (town), Rusk County work and get to work?

91.2% of Dewey (town), Rusk County's workers drive alone and 4.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureDewey (town), Rusk CountyRusk CountyWisconsinChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)51.0%±7.1 pts55.6%65.3%–
Unemployment rate2.8%±2.3 pts5.4%3.2%–
Drove alone to work91.2%±4.0 pts77.5%74.4%–
Carpooled3.4%±3.4 pts10.8%7.3%–
Public transportation0.0%±10.4 pts0.3%1.1%–
Walked1.0%±1.2 pts1.7%2.6%–
Worked from home4.4%±2.1 pts9.2%13.1%–
Mean travel time to work24.4 min±4.326.9 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 Dewey (town), Rusk County?

No census tract lies mostly in Dewey (town), Rusk County; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Dewey (town), Rusk County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Dewey (town), Rusk County
Tract 9601Rusk County3,343 $61,827 $146,80013%

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 Dewey (town), Rusk County) · Census block assignment files

How does Dewey (town), Rusk County compare with other places in Wisconsin?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Dewey (town), Rusk County is the 9,741st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 928th-most populous of 1,239 in Wisconsin.

Dewey (town), Rusk County is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.

Dewey (town), Rusk 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 estimate928th1,239

Dewey (town), Rusk County's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)

Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Dewey (town), Rusk 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 Dewey (town), Rusk County?

21 of the 57 figures for Dewey (town), Rusk 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 Dewey (town), Rusk 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.