City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Lake Geneva, WI

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

8,443
Residents
$73,199
Median income
$323,000
Median home
$1,206
Median rent (state)

Lake Geneva - the verdict

Lake Geneva ranks in the 54th percentile for household income and the 39th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

54th
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
37th
percentile, median rent
39th
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: Lake Geneva, WI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,443 residents in Lake Geneva, a small town within Wisconsin. Median household income here is $73,199 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.5%. Typical homes in Lake Geneva are valued around $323,000, and the median resident age is 47.2 years. Educational attainment runs 43.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 109 residential building permits were authorized in Lake Geneva (Building Boom), up 63% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lake Geneva reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1735.5 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Wisconsin scores 94.1 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,206 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Lake Geneva workers runs 18.2 minutes, with 71.7% driving alone and 10.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 74.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

8,443 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$73,199 /yr

Poverty 9.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Lake Geneva compare to other US cities?

Lake Geneva measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 54% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% pricier than other cities
Safety 39% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Wisconsin and the picture shifts: Lake Geneva ranks #161 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lake Geneva against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Lake Geneva toward the top of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Lake Geneva ranks #80 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lake Geneva only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#313 of 753
58th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#189 of 761
72nd percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#87 of 754
88th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#198 of 761
74th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#80 of 761
89th percentile in Wisconsin

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

54thIncome percentile
39thSafety percentile

54th percentile nationally for median household income · 39th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lake Geneva's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lake Geneva'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 47 Avg. percentile National median
Lake Geneva'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 Lake Geneva's home value compares nationally

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

$323,000 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lake Geneva $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 - Lake Geneva, WI Lake Geneva, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI median $73,199/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%
Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.8%

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

Population
8,443
Median Income
$73,199
Median Home Value
$323,000
Median Age
47.2
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Labor force participation
58.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1735.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
102.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1633.4
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.

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,200 residents8,400 residents8,600 residents8,800 residents9,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,326 residents 8,818 residents ▲ +5.9%
Lake Geneva's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
109
housing units authorized
Single-Family
107
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
12.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 67
2020 89
2021 113
2022 89
2023 71
2024 109

Permit volume increased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.2 minutes
Drive Alone
71.7%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
10.8%
Other
2.7%

Based on 4,238 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 Lake Geneva sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,206/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.8 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Kronenwetter
8,420 people
Mukwonago
8,411 people
Delavan
8,531 people
Monona
8,604 people
Rhinelander
8,248 people
Somers
8,245 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Geneva's 8,443 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Harrison, TN
8,446 people
Center Line, MI
8,448 people
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
8,449 people
Farmingdale, NY
8,450 people
Villanova, PA
8,431 people
Corbin, KY
8,430 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Geneva's $73,199 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sour Lake, TX
$73,190 median income
Knippa, TX
$73,212 median income
Santa Claus, GA
$73,214 median income
Kahuku, HI
$73,214 median income
Sheridan, IL
$73,214 median income
Harlan, IN
$73,214 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake Geneva, 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 Lake Geneva, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.3% White 88.8% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 4.2% Two or more races 5.1% 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 Lake Geneva 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
Lake Geneva (this city) 8,443 $73,199
Kronenwetter 8,420 $107,268
Mukwonago 8,411 $96,096
Delavan 8,531 $71,121
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake Geneva, WI?

What is the population of Lake Geneva, WI? +

Lake Geneva, WI counts 8,443 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake Geneva, WI? +

Median annual household income in Lake Geneva runs $73,199, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake Geneva? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lake Geneva; 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 Lake Geneva, WI safe? +

Lake Geneva has a total crime rate of 1735.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Lake Geneva, WI? +

Homes in Lake Geneva carry a median value of $323,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.