Census-designated place · Wisconsin
Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Lake Wisconsin, census-designated place, mostly in Columbia County (98.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Sauk County, Wisconsin. Lake Wisconsin had 4,616 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,384 (±429). GEOID 5542012.
Residents, 2020 Census
4,616
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 5,384 ±429
Median household income
$124,127
±$11,054 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$452,400
±$35,212 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$1,515
±$249 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Lake Wisconsin and what county is it in?
Lake Wisconsin is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, mostly in Columbia County (98.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Sauk County, Wisconsin. It covers 13.4 square miles of land, 345 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lake Wisconsin is in the Madison, WI metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Lake Wisconsin lies partly within the Town of Lodi and reaches into the Town of West Point, the Town of Dekorra, the Town of Caledonia (Columbia County) and the Town of Merrimac, towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 4,525 | 98.0% |
| Sauk County | 91 | 2.0% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lake Wisconsin, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,616 residents in Lake Wisconsin, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 5,384 (±429).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Lake Wisconsin is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,384 ±429 | 58,272 | +879 |
| Households | 2,419 ±209 | 24,158 | +408 |
| Average household size | 2.23 ±0.15 | 2.35 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,063 ±237 | 26,880 | +354 |
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 Lake Wisconsin?
The median resident of Lake Wisconsin is 51.3 years old; 18.7% are under 18 and 22.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.3%. 1.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 ±4.4 | 43.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.7% ±3.2 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.9% ±4.3 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Male | 51.7% ±2.5 pts | 51.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±1.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.7% ±2.6 pts | 90.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±1.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.0 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.7% ±2.9 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 7.2% ±2.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 5.0% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.4% ±1.0 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.6% ±5.5 pts | 26.0% | +7.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.3% ±3.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±2.9 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
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 Lake Wisconsin earn?
Half of Lake Wisconsin's 2,419 households earn less than $124,127 a year (±$11,054), against $85,351 in Columbia County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 the median was $108,306 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $15,821 after inflation.
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $124,127 ±$11,054 | $85,351 | +$15,821 |
| Mean household income | $142,658 ±$14,051 | $102,726 | – |
| Per capita income | $62,872 ±$4,595 | $42,924 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 3.0% ±2.0 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.7% ±1.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.9% ±0.8 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.2% ±1.9 pts | 88.3% | – |
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 Lake Wisconsin?
Owners occupy 94.1% of Lake Wisconsin's occupied homes and renters 5.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $452,400 by its owner (±$35,212). The median renter pays $1,515 a month including utilities, and 46.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $452,400 ±$35,212 | $283,200 | +$71,008 |
| Median gross rent | $1,515 ±$249 | $978 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.3% ±24.9 pts | 28.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,286 ±$135 | $1,747 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 94.1% ±2.7 pts | 76.7% | +7.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 5.9% ±2.7 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Housing units | 3,063 ±237 | 26,880 | +354 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.7% ±16.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 91.1% ±4.3 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8% ±1.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.9% ±2.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.0% ±1.4 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.0% ±1.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
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 Lake Wisconsin work and get to work?
72.3% of Lake Wisconsin's workers drive alone and 21.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.2 minutes.
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.2% ±4.6 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.0% ±1.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.3% ±4.8 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.7% ±2.2 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.7% ±4.7 pts | 12.5% | +15.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.2 min ±3.6 | 26.0 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 Lake Wisconsin?
No census tract lies mostly in Lake Wisconsin; 5 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9709Columbia County | 4,975 | $122,165 |
| Tract 9708Columbia County | 5,942 | $117,895 |
| Tract 9707Columbia County | 4,467 | $97,667 |
| Tract 9706Columbia County | 4,681 | $86,538 |
| Tract 5Sauk County | 3,585 | $85,179 |
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 Lake Wisconsin) · Census block assignment files
How does Lake Wisconsin compare with other places in Wisconsin?
Lake Wisconsin ranks 55th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 173rd | 914 |
| Residents per square mile | 380th | 914 |
| Median household income | 55th | 914 |
| Per capita income | 50th | 911 |
| Median home value | 51st | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 53rd | 825 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 120th | 914 |
| Median age | 176th | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 135th | 914 |
| Work from home | 48th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 48th | 914 |
Lake Wisconsin's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Lake Wisconsin 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 Lake Wisconsin?
17 of the 57 figures for Lake Wisconsin 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 Lake Wisconsin 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.