City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Prairie du Chien, WI

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

5,471
Residents
$52,670
Median income
$152,100
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Prairie du Chien - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Prairie du Chien places in the 24th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Prairie du Chien, WI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,471 residents in Prairie du Chien, a small town within Wisconsin. Median household income here is $52,670 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.2%. Typical homes in Prairie du Chien are valued around $152,100, and the median resident age is 45.7 years. About 16.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Prairie du Chien (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 47.7°F with 37.7 inches of precipitation per year and 33.8 inches of snowfall.

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 $973 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Wisconsin run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 46.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

5,471 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$52,670 /yr

Poverty 8.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Prairie du Chien compare to other US cities?

Here's how Prairie du Chien stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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

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 Prairie du Chien'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.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Prairie du Chien's home value compares nationally

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

$152,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% 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. Prairie du Chien $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 - Prairie du Chien, WI Prairie du Chien, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Prairie du Chien, 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 Prairie du Chien, WI median $52,670/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%
Prairie du Chien, 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 Prairie du Chien, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.9%

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

Population
5,471
Median Income
$52,670
Median Home Value
$152,100
Median Age
45.7
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Labor force participation
49.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.7°F
Annual Precipitation
37.7"
Annual Snowfall
33.8"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,350 residents5,400 residents5,450 residents5,500 residents5,550 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,520 residents 5,408 residents ▼ -2.0%
Prairie du Chien's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 0
2021 2
2022 5
2023 1
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.7%
Carpool
15.0%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
0.8%

Based on 2,294 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 Prairie du Chien sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
46.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Columbus
5,493 people
Berlin
5,523 people
Rothschild
5,532 people
North Fond du Lac
5,373 people
Waterford
5,627 people
West Salem
5,268 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Prairie du Chien's 5,471 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spirit Lake, IA
5,469 people
Pawcatuck, CT
5,475 people
Floral, FL
5,467 people
Malone, NY
5,466 people
St. Paul Park, MN
5,464 people
Coraopolis, PA
5,464 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Prairie du Chien's $52,670 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Roanoke, VA
$52,671 median income
Calipatria, CA
$52,672 median income
Trommald, MN
$52,667 median income
Mount Carmel, PA
$52,667 median income
Beulah Valley, CO
$52,664 median income
Howard City, MI
$52,663 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Prairie du Chien, 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 Prairie du Chien, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 92.5% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 4.2% 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 Prairie du Chien 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
Prairie du Chien (this city) 5,471 $52,670
Columbus 5,493 $74,957
Berlin 5,523 $55,216
Rothschild 5,532 $87,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Prairie du Chien, WI?

What is the population of Prairie du Chien, WI? +

5,471 people live in Prairie du Chien, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Prairie du Chien, WI? +

The median household income in Prairie du Chien is $52,670 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Prairie du Chien? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Prairie du Chien; 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 Prairie du Chien, WI? +

Prairie du Chien's median home value sits at $152,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Prairie du Chien? +

Climate normals put Prairie du Chien's yearly average temperature at 47.7°F, 37.7 inches of precipitation, and 33.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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