City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Plain, WI

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

776
Residents
$85,938
Median income
$223,600
Median home
$1,111
Median rent (state)

Plain - the verdict

Plain ranks in the 67th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

67th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
30th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Plain, WI

Wisconsin's Plain is a small town, with 776 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Plain households earn a median of $85,938 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.2%. Typical homes in Plain are valued around $223,600, and the median resident age is 39.7 years. About 29.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 76.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,111 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 72.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

776 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$85,938 /yr

Poverty 8.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Plain compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 67% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Plain 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 sits close to the middle of Wisconsin's city distribution

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Plain ranks #212 - the 72nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Plain only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#179 of 753
76th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#365 of 761
50th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#240 of 754
68th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#238 of 761
68th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#212 of 761
72nd 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.

67thIncome percentile

67th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Plain's home value compares nationally

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

$223,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Plain $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 - Plain, WI Plain, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Plain, 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 Plain, WI median $85,938/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%
Plain, 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 Plain, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 76.8%

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

Population
776
Median Income
$85,938
Median Home Value
$223,600
Median Age
39.7
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Labor force participation
76.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.9%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
710 residents720 residents730 residents740 residents750 residents 202020212022202320242025 743 residents 717 residents ▼ -3.5%
Plain's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 1
2022 1
2023 0
2024 2

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.0%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
4.9%
Work from Home
9.3%
Other
1.4%

Based on 471 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 Plain sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,111/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Shiocton
776 people
Pepin
781 people
Eden
766 people
Potter Lake
766 people
Cambria
765 people
Lake Ivanhoe
764 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Plain's 776 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pickensville, AL
776 people
Rockford, AL
776 people
Freelandville, IN
776 people
Liberal, MO
776 people
Farmersville, PA
776 people
Riceville, TN
776 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Plain's $85,938 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Holcomb, KS
$85,938 median income
New London, NH
$85,938 median income
Bella Vista, AR
$85,932 median income
Carrboro, NC
$85,927 median income
Reamstown, PA
$85,952 median income
Jena, LA
$85,955 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Plain, 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 Plain, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.6% White 94.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Plain 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
Plain (this city) 776 $85,938
Shiocton 776 $56,146
Pepin 781 $72,500
Eden 766 $68,523
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Plain, WI?

What is the population of Plain, WI? +

Plain, WI has a population of 776 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Plain, WI? +

Median annual household income in Plain runs $85,938, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Plain? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Plain; 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.

What is the median home value in Plain, WI? +

A typical home in Plain is worth $223,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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