City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Stratford, WI

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

1,439
Residents
$65,880
Median income
$189,700
Median home
$1,147
Median rent (state)

Stratford - the verdict

Nationally, Stratford sits in the 44th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

44th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
32nd
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: Stratford, WI

Stratford is a small town in Wisconsin, home to 1,439 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Stratford households earn a median of $65,880 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Stratford's housing stock carries a median value of $189,700, and the median resident age is 48.6 years. 21.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 72.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 80% from five years earlier.

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 $1,147 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,439 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$65,880 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Stratford compare to other US cities?

Where Stratford sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% 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 Stratford against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Wisconsin's city distribution

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Stratford ranks #219 - the 71st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Stratford only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#414 of 753
45th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#336 of 761
54th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#342 of 754
55th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#219 of 761
71st percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#379 of 761
50th 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.

44thIncome percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Stratford's home value compares nationally

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

$189,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Stratford $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 - Stratford, WI Stratford, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Stratford, 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 Stratford, WI median $65,880/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%
Stratford, 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 Stratford, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 72.1%

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

Population
1,439
Median Income
$65,880
Median Home Value
$189,700
Median Age
48.6
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
72.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,580 residents1,600 residents1,620 residents1,640 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,594 residents 1,619 residents ▲ +1.6%
Stratford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 5
2023 0
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 80% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.1%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
0.8%

Based on 867 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 Stratford sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,147/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Hurley
1,438 people
Brooklyn
1,457 people
Montello
1,411 people
Bangor
1,409 people
Mishicot
1,470 people
King
1,474 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Stratford's 1,439 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Warren, IL
1,439 people
Woodland Hills, UT
1,439 people
Carbon Hill, AL
1,440 people
New Brockton, AL
1,440 people
Sulligent, AL
1,440 people
Nanawale Estates, HI
1,440 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Stratford's $65,880 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brewster, NY
$65,881 median income
Oak Park, MI
$65,882 median income
Wooster, OH
$65,888 median income
West Brownsville, PA
$65,871 median income
Tull, AR
$65,893 median income
Altenburg, MO
$65,893 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Stratford, 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 Stratford, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.1% White 93.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.7% Two or more races 1.9% 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 Stratford 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
Stratford (this city) 1,439 $65,880
Hurley 1,438 $42,188
Brooklyn 1,457 $100,357
Montello 1,411 $54,023
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Stratford, WI?

What is the population of Stratford, WI? +

1,439 people live in Stratford, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Stratford, the typical household earns $65,880 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Stratford? +

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

The median home value in Stratford is $189,700, 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.