County · Wisconsin

Douglas County, Wisconsin

Douglas County, Wisconsin. Douglas County had 43,990 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.7% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. It holds 24 places (6 cities, villages and boroughs, 16 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 15 census tracts. GEOID 55031.

Douglas County is one of the 3 counties of the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

43,990

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 44,295 · ACS 2020-2024: 44,229

Median household income

$75,099

±$3,609 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$205,800

±$6,393 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$909

±$52 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

How many people live in Douglas County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 44,295 residents in Douglas County. The Census Bureau estimates 43,990 for July 1, 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 44,229 over 1,304 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −339 (44,012)
2021→2022 +205 (44,217)
2022→2023 −115 (44,102)
2023→2024 −184 (43,918)
2024→2025 +72 (43,990)

Douglas County in Wisconsin. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Douglas County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	44,229	5,914,872	+934
Households	19,160±280	2,479,480	no clear change
Average household size	2.24±0.03	2.33	no clear change
Housing units	23,154±67	2,778,572	no clear change

Douglas County's population since 2000

From 43,287 in 2000 to 43,990 in 2025: up 1.6%. 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.

2000 Census 43,287
2005 (estimate) 43,872
2010 Census 44,159
2015 (estimate) 43,553
2020 Census 44,295
2025 (estimate) 43,990

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 Douglas County?

Douglas County holds 24 places: 6 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Superior, Douglas County (city) with 26,397 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Douglas County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Superior, Douglas County (city)	city	26,751	26,677±23	$64,216	$180,400	13.3%	100%
Superior (town)	town	2,264	2,107±317	$118,194	$298,500	2.7%	100%
Parkland (town)	town	1,231	1,464±300	$94,500	$209,100	7.7%	100%
Amnicon (town)	town	1,224	1,202±168	$62,454	$196,700	5.7%	100%
Oakland (town), Douglas County	town	1,170	1,198±168	$88,828	$286,000	4.4%	100%
Lake Nebagamon	village	1,123	963±125	$79,250	$284,500	3.4%	100%
Hawthorne (town)	town	1,058	1,170±213	$101,875	$232,900	4.7%	100%
Summit (town), Douglas County	town	1,030	897±119	$71,071	$201,300	11.6%	100%
Solon Springs (town)	town	970	979±158	$113,750	$268,100	7.0%	100%
Wascott (town)	town	912	935±139	$72,292	$310,900	10.6%	100%
Gordon (town), Douglas County	town	757	784±132	$74,375	$219,600	18.8%	100%
Maple (town)	town	700	678±135	$90,500	$201,300	7.4%	100%
Lakeside (town)	town	681	720±112	$82,330	$244,000	4.4%	100%
Superior, Douglas County (village)	village	677	653±125	$70,694	$274,200	8.4%	100%
Solon Springs	village	656	649±127	$75,625	$211,500	8.6%	100%
Bennett (town)	town	632	622±95	$106,250	$250,000	5.9%	100%
Poplar	village	629	626±148	$113,125	$255,600	5.2%	100%
Brule (town)	town	607	545±86	$63,375	$227,100	8.4%	100%
Oliver	village	423	462±93	$86,250	$223,200	6.9%	100%
Highland (town), Douglas County	town	340	454±88	$75,104	$237,500	11.5%	100%
Cloverland (town), Douglas CountyGEOID 5503115825	town	249	199±61	$87,083	$212,500	7.5%	100%
Dairyland (town)	town	211	245±64	$59,167	$241,000	6.5%	100%
Brule	CDP	208	162±36	$92,917	$232,100	8.0%	100%
GordonGEOID 5529900	CDP	145	128±56	$76,250	$112,500	4.7%	100%

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 Douglas County?

The median resident of Douglas County is 42.7 years old; 19.2% are under 18 and 20.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.3%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Douglas County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.7±0.5	40.2	no clear change
Under 18 years	19.2%	21.4%	–
65 years and over	20.7%±0.1 pts	18.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.9%	8.0%	+0.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	89.7%±0.3 pts	78.6%	−1.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.8%±0.4 pts	5.9%	−0.6 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	2.9%	−0.5 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.2 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	5.3%±0.6 pts	3.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.8%±0.4 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.2%±0.4 pts	9.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.9%±0.7 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	14.5%±1.2 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.0%±0.7 pts	5.2%	−2.3 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.4%±0.7 pts	93.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	28.4%±1.6 pts	33.4%	+4.3 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.4%±0.9 pts	11.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	4.3%±1.0 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 Douglas County earn?

Half of Douglas County's 19,160 households earn less than $75,099 a year (±$3,609), against $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 the median was $66,440 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,659 after inflation. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Douglas County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$75,099±$3,609	$77,485	+$8,659
Mean household income	$88,663±$3,043	$101,466	–
Per capita income	$39,586±$1,248	$43,373	+$2,477
People below the poverty line	10.8%±1.2 pts	10.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.7%±3.2 pts	12.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.5%±1.6 pts	11.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	87.8%±1.3 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 Douglas County?

Owners occupy 71.9% of Douglas County's occupied homes and renters 28.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $205,800 by its owner (±$6,393). The median renter pays $909 a month including utilities, and 34.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Douglas County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$205,800±$6,393	$266,500	+$26,365
Median gross rent	$909±$52	$1,087	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	34.9%±4.3 pts	35.0%	+6.0 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,472±$42	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	71.9%±1.9 pts	67.8%	+4.4 pts
Housing units	23,154±67	2,778,572	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.1%±2.4 pts	4.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	74.5%±1.5 pts	66.2%	–
Mobile homes	4.6%±0.6 pts	3.1%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.3 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.3%±1.7 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 Douglas County building?

Builders took permits for 80 new housing units across Douglas County in 2025 (78 single-family), 1.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 75 units
2020 96 units
2021 112 units
2022 122 units
2023 110 units
2024 95 units
2025 80 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Douglas County get to work?

76.0% of Douglas County's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Douglas County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	62.1%±1.1 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.1%±0.6 pts	3.2%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.0%±1.9 pts	74.4%	–
Carpooled	9.5%±1.6 pts	7.3%	–
Public transportation	1.0%±0.4 pts	1.1%	–
Walked	3.4%±0.8 pts	2.6%	–
Worked from home	9.1%±1.1 pts	13.1%	+4.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.0 min±0.9	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 Douglas County's census tracts?

Douglas County is divided into 15 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $27,746 (Tract 211) to $96,146 (Tract 302).

Census tracts of Douglas County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 20355031020300	Superior	2,918	2,892±360	$46,820	$107,300	$985	22.9%
Tract 20455031020400	Superior	3,228	3,454±492	$89,938	$207,400	$798	4.3%
Tract 20555031020500	Superior	2,906	3,415±406	$93,313	$195,600	$1,123	10.3%
Tract 20655031020600	Superior	4,226	3,862±387	$59,261	$158,400	$866	8.8%
Tract 20755031020700	Superior (88%)	4,230	4,060±408	$84,049	$215,600	$868	8.5%
Tract 20855031020800	Superior (86%)	3,492	3,705±492	$72,059	$203,500	$951	9.6%
Tract 20955031020900	Superior	2,291	1,689±254	$58,015	$157,600	$937	13.1%
Tract 21055031021000	Superior (74%)	1,863	2,273±443	$68,304	$135,500	$1,051	8.8%
Tract 21155031021100	Superior	2,139	2,007±335	$27,746	$114,300	$713	47.4%
Tract 301.0155031030101	Poplar (17%)	4,164	4,132±260	$91,053	$232,200	$961	5.2%
Tract 301.0255031030102	Lake Nebagamon (15%)	2,083	1,958±175	$68,958	$222,400	$800	6.0%
Tract 30255031030200	Superior (5%)	5,247	5,217±336	$96,146	$271,000	$1,029	5.4%
Tract 303.0155031030301	Gordon (2%)	3,143	3,045±202	$82,500	$255,300	$1,542	9.1%
Tract 303.0255031030302	Solon Springs (18%)	2,365	2,520±170	$78,700	$235,500	$785	12.1%
Tract 990055031990000	–	0	0±10	not published	not published	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 Douglas County compare with Wisconsin's other counties?

Douglas County's rank among Wisconsin's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	34th of 72
Growth 2020-2025	67th of 72
Residents per square mile	47th of 72
Median household income	27th of 72
Median home value	49th of 72
Median gross rent	33rd of 72
Poverty rate	30th of 72
Bachelor's degree or higher	23rd of 72
Median age	43rd of 72

Every county in Wisconsin

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 Douglas 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.