City · Wisconsin
Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Ladysmith, city, in Rusk County, Wisconsin. Ladysmith had 3,172 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,216 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,227 (±16). GEOID 5540850.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,172
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,216 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,227 ±16
Median household income
$41,719
±$12,928 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$124,200
±$19,718 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$882
±$49 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Ladysmith and what county is it in?
Ladysmith is a city in Rusk County, Wisconsin. It covers 4.2 square miles of land, 761 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 Ladysmith, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,172 people lived in Ladysmith on July 1, 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 3,216 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,227 (±16).
| Measure | Ladysmith | Rusk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,227 ±16 | 14,179 | +78 |
| Households | 1,694 ±82 | 6,355 | +284 |
| Average household size | 1.81 ±0.09 | 2.20 | −0.32 |
| Housing units | 1,775 ±93 | 8,663 | +245 |
Ladysmith's population since 2000
From 3,932 in 2000 to 3,172 in 2025: down 19.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith?
The median resident of Ladysmith is 49.5 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 26.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.4%. 1.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ladysmith | Rusk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 ±1.2 | 49.2 | +8.1 |
| Under 18 years | 17.4% ±2.4 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 26.7% ±3.3 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±3.0 pts | 51.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.1% ±2.9 pts | 93.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±1.3 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.9% ±2.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 20.7% ±4.4 pts | 17.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.4% ±2.6 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.2% ±1.8 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.2% ±4.4 pts | 16.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.9% ±2.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.8% ±5.1 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3% ±1.4 pts | 2.2% | – |
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 Ladysmith earn?
Half of Ladysmith's 1,694 households earn less than $41,719 a year (±$12,928), against $59,944 in Rusk County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $49,090 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ladysmith | Rusk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,719 ±$12,928 | $59,944 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $58,935 ±$7,397 | $73,376 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,435 ±$3,850 | $33,309 | +$5,587 |
| People below the poverty line | 19.0% ±6.9 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.8% ±19.9 pts | 20.6% | +32.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 25.3% ±6.6 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.7% ±5.4 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.1% ±5.9 pts | 84.9% | – |
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 Ladysmith?
Owners occupy 53.0% of Ladysmith's occupied homes and renters 47.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,200 by its owner (±$19,718). The median renter pays $882 a month including utilities, and 40.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ladysmith | Rusk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $124,200 ±$19,718 | $163,400 | +$25,006 |
| Median gross rent | $882 ±$49 | $874 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.8% ±12.8 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,093 ±$122 | $1,260 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.0% ±6.3 pts | 77.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.0% ±6.3 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,775 ±93 | 8,663 | +245 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% ±5.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.7% ±6.2 pts | 84.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.9% ±5.4 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.6% ±5.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 Ladysmith building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Ladysmith in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.6 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 Ladysmith work and get to work?
70.2% of Ladysmith's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 18.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.2%.
| Measure | Ladysmith | Rusk County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.9% ±5.8 pts | 55.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.2% ±4.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.2% ±7.6 pts | 77.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 22.1% ±7.5 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9% ±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.1% ±2.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.6% ±3.5 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.3 min ±3.6 | 26.9 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 Ladysmith?
1 census tract lies mostly in Ladysmith, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9605Rusk County | 3,561 | $46,369 |
| Tract 9604Rusk County | 2,865 | $66,049 |
| Tract 9601Rusk County | 3,343 | $61,827 |
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 Ladysmith) · Census block assignment files
How does Ladysmith compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ladysmith is the 6,157th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 210th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Ladysmith ranks 910th 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 | 210th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 824th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 286th | 914 |
| Median household income | 910th | 914 |
| Per capita income | 829th | 911 |
| Median home value | 892nd | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 571st | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 46th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 689th | 914 |
| Median age | 258th | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 881st | 914 |
| Travel time to work | 802nd | 914 |
Ladysmith's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith?
14 of the 57 figures for Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith.