City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Fond du Lac, WI

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

44,491
Residents
$61,620
Median income
$161,300
Median home
$1,176
Median rent (state)

Fond du Lac - the verdict

Nationally, Fond du Lac sits in the 38th percentile for household income and the 22nd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

38th
percentile, household income
31st
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
22nd
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: Fond du Lac, WI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 44,491 residents in Fond du Lac, a small city within Wisconsin. The typical household in Fond du Lac brings in $61,620 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Typical homes in Fond du Lac are valued around $161,300, and the median resident age is 37.2 years. About 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 32 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 79% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2490.7 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.0°F with 32.4 inches of precipitation per year.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,176 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). The average commute for Fond du Lac workers runs 18.1 minutes, with 75.9% driving alone and 8.9% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 76.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

44,491 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$61,620 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Fond du Lac compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 31% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities
Safety 22% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Wisconsin, Fond du Lac ranks #188 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison 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 Fond du Lac'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.

38thIncome percentile
22ndSafety percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income · 22nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Fond du Lac's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Fond du Lac'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 42 Avg. percentile National median
Fond du Lac'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 Fond du Lac's home value compares nationally

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

$161,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Fond du Lac $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 - Fond du Lac, WI Fond du Lac, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fond du Lac, 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 Fond du Lac, WI median $61,620/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%
Fond du Lac, 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 Fond du Lac, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.3%

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

Population
44,491
Median Income
$61,620
Median Home Value
$161,300
Median Age
37.2
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
61.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2490.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
387.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2103.5
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.0°F
Annual Precipitation
32.4"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
44,400 residents44,500 residents44,600 residents44,700 residents44,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 44,709 residents 44,541 residents ▼ -0.4%
Fond du Lac's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
32
housing units authorized
Single-Family
32
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 149
2020 26
2021 103
2022 31
2023 25
2024 32

Permit volume decreased 79% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.1 minutes
Drive Alone
75.9%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
2.1%

Based on 21,361 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 Fond du Lac sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,176/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
76.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Brookfield
41,592 people
Wauwatosa
47,718 people
New Berlin
40,384 people
Wausau
39,893 people
Sheboygan
49,812 people
Menomonee Falls
38,963 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fond du Lac's 44,491 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cutler Bay, FL
44,483 people
Sicklerville, NJ
44,500 people
Rohnert Park, CA
44,461 people
Bremerton, WA
44,531 people
Alexandria, LA
44,566 people
Fairfield, OH
44,597 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fond du Lac's $61,620 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lovell, WY
$61,620 median income
Tonawanda, NY
$61,619 median income
Hinton, OK
$61,622 median income
Avis, PA
$61,618 median income
Bernalillo, NM
$61,624 median income
Holstein, IA
$61,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fond du Lac, 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 Fond du Lac, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.5% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.7% White 85.5% Black or African American 2.8% Asian 2.9% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 2.3% Two or more races 6.0% 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 Fond du Lac 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
Fond du Lac (this city) 44,491 $61,620
Brookfield 41,592 $124,026
Wauwatosa 47,718 $93,859
New Berlin 40,384 $97,414
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fond du Lac, WI?

What is the population of Fond du Lac, WI? +

44,491 people live in Fond du Lac, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fond du Lac, WI? +

The median household income in Fond du Lac is $61,620 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fond du Lac? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fond du Lac; 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 Fond du Lac, WI safe? +

Fond du Lac has a total crime rate of 2490.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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 Fond du Lac, WI? +

Fond du Lac's median home value sits at $161,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fond du Lac? +

Fond du Lac has an average annual temperature of 47.0°F, 32.4 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

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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.