City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Waunakee, WI

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

14,927
Residents
$128,750
Median income
$490,300
Median home
$1,694
Median rent (state)

Waunakee - the verdict

Waunakee ranks in the 90th percentile for household income and the 92nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

90th
percentile, household income
84th
percentile, home value
67th
percentile, median rent
92nd
percentile, safety
📝 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: Waunakee, WI

Wisconsin's Waunakee is a small town, with 14,927 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Waunakee households earn a median of $128,750 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.8%. Typical homes in Waunakee are valued around $490,300, and the median resident age is 39.9 years. 62.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 68.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 125 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 26% from five years earlier. Waunakee reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 315.3 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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 $1,694 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Workers in Waunakee report an average commute of 17.8 minutes, with 69.9% driving alone and 18.9% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

14,927 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$128,750 /yr

Poverty 2.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Waunakee compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 84% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% pricier than other cities
Safety 92% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Wisconsin, Waunakee ranks #20 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Waunakee against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Waunakee's strongest outlier among Wisconsin cities

Among the 754 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Waunakee ranks #14 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waunakee only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#23 of 753
97th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#24 of 761
94th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#14 of 754
98th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#533 of 761
30th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#23 of 761
97th 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.

90thIncome percentile
92ndSafety percentile

90th percentile nationally for median household income · 92nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Waunakee's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Waunakee's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 69 Avg. percentile National median
Waunakee's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Waunakee's home value compares nationally

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

$490,300 16th percentile more affordable than 16% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Waunakee $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 - Waunakee, WI Waunakee, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waunakee, 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 Waunakee, WI median $128,750/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%
Waunakee, 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 Waunakee, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 62.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 68.2%

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

Population
14,927
Median Income
$128,750
Median Home Value
$490,300
Median Age
39.9
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Labor force participation
68.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
62.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
315.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
105.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
210.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
14,500 residents15,000 residents15,500 residents16,000 residents16,500 residents17,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,916 residents 16,411 residents ▲ +10.0%
Waunakee's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
125
housing units authorized
Single-Family
125
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 99
2023 114
2024 125

Permit volume increased 26% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.8 minutes
Drive Alone
69.9%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
18.9%
Other
0.7%

Based on 7,646 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 Waunakee sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,694/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Hudson
15,004 people
Whitefish Bay
14,750 people
Greendale
14,656 people
Chippewa Falls
14,643 people
Salem Lakes
14,521 people
Verona
14,499 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waunakee's 14,927 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lake Arbor, MD
14,932 people
Henderson, NC
14,922 people
Fairview, NJ
14,920 people
Lilburn, GA
14,939 people
Lemon Hill, CA
14,942 people
Hazel Park, MI
14,945 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waunakee's $128,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Healy, AK
$128,750 median income
Fruitdale, CA
$128,750 median income
Verandah, FL
$128,750 median income
Millbrook, IL
$128,750 median income
Long Beach, IN
$128,750 median income
Seneca Gardens, KY
$128,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waunakee, 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 Waunakee, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.3% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.4% White 88.3% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 1.3% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 6.8% 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 Waunakee 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
Waunakee (this city) 14,927 $128,750
Hudson 15,004 $97,036
Whitefish Bay 14,750 $154,255
Greendale 14,656 $95,015
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waunakee, WI?

What is the population of Waunakee, WI? +

14,927 people live in Waunakee, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Waunakee runs $128,750, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waunakee? +

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

Is Waunakee, WI safe? +

Waunakee has a total crime rate of 315.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Waunakee's median home value sits at $490,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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