City · Wisconsin
Washburn, Wisconsin
Washburn, city, in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Washburn had 2,045 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,051 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,884 (±222). GEOID 5583525.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,045
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,051 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,884 ±222
Median household income
$62,128
±$7,414 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$178,900
±$13,437 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$798
±$146 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Washburn and what county is it in?
Washburn is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. It covers 3.9 square miles of land, 524 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Washburn, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,045 people lived in Washburn on July 1, 2025, up 0.2% since 2020, slower than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 2,051 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,884 (±222).
| Measure | Washburn | Bayfield County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,884 ±222 | 16,575 | no clear change |
| Households | 851 ±99 | 7,437 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.18 | 2.21 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,030 ±105 | 13,356 | no clear change |
Washburn's population since 2000
From 2,280 in 2000 to 2,045 in 2025: down 10.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Washburn as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Washburn?
The median resident of Washburn is 51.7 years old; 13.2% are under 18 and 30.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 7.4%.
| Measure | Washburn | Bayfield County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 ±5.5 | 54.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 13.2% ±3.7 pts | 16.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.6% ±4.8 pts | 31.3% | – |
| Male | 46.5% ±3.3 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.9% ±1.9 pts | 2.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.0% ±4.0 pts | 83.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±1.8 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.4% ±3.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.7% ±1.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.3% ±2.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.0% ±3.1 pts | 10.7% | – |
| With a disability | 19.1% ±4.2 pts | 16.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3% ±2.2 pts | 5.3% | +3.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.2% ±2.1 pts | 96.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.5% ±6.2 pts | 35.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.1% ±3.9 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.6% ±5.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.6% ±2.1 pts | 2.8% | – |
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 Washburn earn?
Half of Washburn's 851 households earn less than $62,128 a year (±$7,414), against $71,151 in Bayfield County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $59,381 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Washburn | Bayfield County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,128 ±$7,414 | $71,151 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $81,162 ±$12,377 | $89,755 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,483 ±$6,023 | $41,199 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.7% ±3.2 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6% ±7.2 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.8% ±3.9 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.6% ±6.6 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.8% ±6.4 pts | 89.8% | – |
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 Washburn?
Owners occupy 69.2% of Washburn's occupied homes and renters 30.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $178,900 by its owner (±$13,437). The median renter pays $798 a month including utilities, and 40.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Washburn | Bayfield County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $178,900 ±$13,437 | $240,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $798 ±$146 | $812 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.8% ±18.8 pts | 31.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,189 ±$76 | $1,478 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.2% ±9.0 pts | 83.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.8% ±9.0 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,030 ±105 | 13,356 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.6% ±5.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 18.3% ±13.0 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.6% ±7.8 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% ±3.5 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.0% ±5.9 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.7% ±6.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
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 many new homes is Washburn building?
Builders took permits for 41 new housing units in Washburn in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 20.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Washburn work and get to work?
65.1% of Washburn's workers drive alone and 11.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.4 minutes.
| Measure | Washburn | Bayfield County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.1% ±5.7 pts | 52.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 65.1% ±6.5 pts | 71.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.3% ±4.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7% ±1.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 8.4% ±3.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.9% ±3.8 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.4 min ±2.3 | 23.3 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 Washburn?
No census tract lies mostly in Washburn; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9603Bayfield County | 3,714 | $73,523 |
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 Washburn) · Census block assignment files
How does Washburn compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Washburn is the 7,606th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 264th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Washburn ranks 790th of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 264th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 520th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 341st | 914 |
| Median household income | 790th | 914 |
| Per capita income | 606th | 911 |
| Median home value | 786th | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 698th | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 394th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 210th | 914 |
| Median age | 163rd | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 697th | 914 |
| Work from home | 408th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 899th | 914 |
Washburn's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Washburn 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 Washburn?
13 of the 57 figures for Washburn 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 Washburn 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' public schools in Washburn.