County · Wisconsin
Bayfield County, Wisconsin
Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Bayfield County had 16,787 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.5% since 2020, faster than Wisconsin (+1.3%). It holds 36 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs, 25 towns and townships and 7 census-designated) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 55007.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,787
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,220 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,575
Median household income
$71,151
±$2,275 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$240,800
±$8,203 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$812
±$86 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
How many people live in Bayfield County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 16,220 residents in Bayfield County. The Census Bureau estimates 16,787 for July 1, 2025, up 3.5% since 2020, faster than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 16,575 over 1,478 square miles of land.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,575 | 5,914,872 | +1,582 |
| Households | 7,437±202 | 2,479,480 | +380 |
| Average household size | 2.21±0.06 | 2.33 | +0.10 |
| Housing units | 13,356±41 | 2,778,572 | no clear change |
Bayfield County's population since 2000
From 15,013 in 2000 to 16,787 in 2025: up 11.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Bayfield County?
Bayfield County holds 36 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 25 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 7 census-designated places. The largest is Washburn with 2,045 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Washburn | 2,051 | $62,128 |
|---|---|---|
| Russell (town), Bayfield County | 1,553 | $48,068 |
| Iron River (town) | 1,240 | $57,685 |
| Cable (town) | 853 | $54,016 |
| Barnes (town) | 823 | $74,167 |
| Bayfield (town) | 787 | $72,431 |
| Iron River | 768 | $50,536 |
| Barksdale (town) | 745 | $81,625 |
| Eileen (town) | 722 | $93,438 |
| Bayfield | 584 | $70,982 |
| Oulu (town) | 560 | $96,875 |
| Washburn (town), Bayfield County | 554 | $90,833 |
| Drummond (town) | 544 | $80,446 |
| Bayview (town) | 512 | $79,676 |
| Grand View (town) | 508 | $84,205 |
| Hughes (town) | 471 | $82,083 |
| Kelly (town) | 436 | $78,750 |
| Port Wing (town) | 389 | $61,563 |
| Keystone (town) | 373 | $85,750 |
| Bell (town) | 355 | $88,625 |
| Namakagon (town) | 316 | $70,625 |
| Delta (town) | 315 | $80,469 |
| Mason (town) | 289 | $92,656 |
| Clover (town) | 261 | $53,125 |
| Lincoln (town), Bayfield County | 251 | $71,786 |
| Tripp (town) | 244 | $93,125 |
| Pilsen (town) | 216 | $93,333 |
| Cable | 177 | $33,333 |
| Drummond | 169 | $68,958 |
| Orienta (town) | 164 | $68,750 |
| Port Wing | 156 | $52,500 |
| HerbsterGEOID 5533975 | 130 | $50,833 |
| Grand ViewGEOID 5530150 | 117 | $68,750 |
| CornucopiaGEOID 5517150 | 103 | $104,375 |
| MasonGEOID 5549900 | 101 | $71,667 |
| Ashland | 7,908 | $54,529 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bayfield County?
The median resident of Bayfield County is 54.6 years old; 16.3% are under 18 and 31.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.7%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 7.4%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.6±0.2 | 40.2 | +2.4 |
| Under 18 years | 16.3%±0.2 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.3%±0.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% | 8.0% | +0.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.7%±0.4 pts | 78.6% | −0.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.2 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 7.4%±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4%±0.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1%±0.3 pts | 5.2% | −0.6 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.1%±0.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.7%±0.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 16.6%±1.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.3%±0.7 pts | 5.2% | −1.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.0%±0.6 pts | 93.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.0%±1.6 pts | 33.4% | +3.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.2%±1.2 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8%±0.6 pts | 2.0% | – |
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 Bayfield County earn?
Half of Bayfield County's 7,437 households earn less than $71,151 a year (±$2,275), against $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $69,037 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,151±$2,275 | $77,485 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $89,755±$2,873 | $101,466 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,199±$1,185 | $43,373 | +$2,032 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.8%±0.9 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.4%±2.7 pts | 12.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.6%±1.2 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8%±1.4 pts | 90.3% | – |
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 Bayfield County?
Owners occupy 83.9% of Bayfield County's occupied homes and renters 16.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,800 by its owner (±$8,203). The median renter pays $812 a month including utilities, and 31.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $240,800±$8,203 | $266,500 | +$31,336 |
| Median gross rent | $812±$86 | $1,087 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.4%±6.5 pts | 35.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,478±$49 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.9%±1.9 pts | 67.8% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 13,356±41 | 2,778,572 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.0%±4.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.9%±1.3 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.4%±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0%±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.2%±1.3 pts | 17.8% | – |
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 Bayfield County building?
Builders took permits for 168 new housing units across Bayfield County in 2025 (128 single-family), 10.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bayfield County get to work?
71.0% of Bayfield County's workers drive alone and 13.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.9%±1.4 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6%±0.8 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.0%±1.8 pts | 74.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.8%±1.2 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.6%±0.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.4%±1.2 pts | 13.1% | +5.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.3 min±1.2 | 22.2 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 are Bayfield County's census tracts?
Bayfield County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $65,069 (Tract 9601) to $77,788 (Tract 9604.02).
| Tract 960155007960100 | 2,978±147 | $65,069 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 960255007960200 | 1,851±110 | $73,385 |
| Tract 960355007960300 | 3,714±213 | $73,523 |
| Tract 9604.0155007960401 | 2,124±157 | $66,250 |
| Tract 9604.0255007960402 | 3,406±182 | $77,788 |
| Tract 960655007960600 | 2,502±184 | $65,179 |
| Tract 990055007990000 | 0±10 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Bayfield County compare with Wisconsin's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 61st of 72 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 9th of 72 |
| Residents per square mile | 69th of 72 |
| Median household income | 39th of 72 |
| Median home value | 26th of 72 |
| Median gross rent | 53rd of 72 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd of 72 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9th of 72 |
| Median age | 6th of 72 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Bayfield County 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' school search.