County · Wisconsin

Lincoln County, Wisconsin

Lincoln County, Wisconsin. Lincoln County had 28,403 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, about level with 2020, slower than Wisconsin (+1.3%). It holds 18 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 16 towns and townships) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 55069.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

28,403

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 28,415 · ACS 2020-2024: 28,426

Median household income

$68,164

±$3,741 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$192,700

±$8,759 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$755

±$45 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

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

The 2020 Census counted 28,415 residents in Lincoln County. The Census Bureau estimates 28,403 for July 1, 2025, about level with 2020, slower than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 28,426 over 879 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +53 (28,476)
2021→2022 −135 (28,341)
2022→2023 +62 (28,403)
2023→2024 −8 (28,395)
2024→2025 +8 (28,403)

Lincoln County in Wisconsin. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Lincoln County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	28,426	5,914,872	+682
Households	12,772±235	2,479,480	no clear change
Average household size	2.18±0.04	2.33	no clear change
Housing units	16,327±57	2,778,572	−815

Lincoln County's population since 2000

From 29,641 in 2000 to 28,403 in 2025: down 4.2%. 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 29,641
2005 (estimate) 29,602
2010 Census 28,743
2015 (estimate) 27,864
2020 Census 28,415
2025 (estimate) 28,403

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 Lincoln County?

Lincoln County holds 18 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 16 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Merrill with 9,389 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 Lincoln County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Merrill	city	9,347	9,356±22	$53,148	$123,800	17.4%	100%
Tomahawk	city	3,441	3,395±56	$60,223	$173,300	12.5%	100%
Merrill (town)	town	2,881	2,873±31	$81,063	$197,500	8.6%	100%
Bradley (town)	town	2,382	2,029±252	$76,193	$267,000	6.3%	100%
Pine River (town)	town	1,874	1,734±200	$109,722	$280,000	3.7%	100%
Scott (town), Lincoln County	town	1,377	1,454±189	$87,500	$266,400	7.3%	100%
King (town)	town	964	842±95	$86,389	$299,600	5.6%	100%
Schley (town)	town	950	836±127	$82,917	$217,000	6.7%	100%
Harrison (town), Lincoln County	town	828	872±117	$85,329	$264,200	3.7%	100%
Corning (town)	town	825	976±193	$80,139	$211,200	7.5%	100%
Russell (town), Lincoln County	town	693	788±128	$90,361	$204,400	4.3%	100%
Rock Falls (town)	town	635	884±161	$65,278	$165,900	3.8%	100%
Birch (town)	town	570	684±105	$87,750	$218,400	6.5%	100%
Tomahawk (town)	town	458	560±121	$62,341	$198,900	4.8%	100%
Skanawan (town)	town	386	364±71	$68,750	$247,800	6.1%	100%
Harding (town)	town	364	301±53	$86,875	$268,500	7.3%	100%
Wilson (town), Lincoln County	town	317	310±60	$75,417	$227,800	5.6%	100%
Somo (town)GEOID 5506974725	town	123	168±66	$81,806	$113,900	4.2%	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 Lincoln County?

The median resident of Lincoln County is 49.3 years old; 17.8% are under 18 and 23.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%. 1.9% 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	Lincoln County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	49.3±0.2	40.2	+1.6
Under 18 years	17.8%±0.1 pts	21.4%	–
65 years and over	23.6%±0.1 pts	18.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.3%	8.0%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	93.0%±0.6 pts	78.6%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	2.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 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	3.1%±0.4 pts	3.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.4 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.9%±0.4 pts	5.2%	+1.0 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.4%±0.5 pts	9.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.9%±0.7 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	14.0%±1.4 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.7%±0.9 pts	5.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.4%±1.2 pts	93.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.6%±1.4 pts	33.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.4%±1.0 pts	11.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±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 Lincoln County earn?

Half of Lincoln County's 12,772 households earn less than $68,164 a year (±$3,741), against $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $72,046 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lincoln County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,164±$3,741	$77,485	no clear change
Mean household income	$85,455±$3,176	$101,466	–
Per capita income	$39,326±$1,428	$43,373	no clear change
People below the poverty line	10.6%±1.5 pts	10.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	13.5%±4.0 pts	12.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	13.1%±1.7 pts	11.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.2%±1.8 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 Lincoln County?

Owners occupy 79.5% of Lincoln County's occupied homes and renters 20.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,700 by its owner (±$8,759). The median renter pays $755 a month including utilities, and 39.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lincoln County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$192,700±$8,759	$266,500	+$20,772
Median gross rent	$755±$45	$1,087	−$60
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.2%±7.4 pts	35.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,361±$47	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.5%±2.0 pts	67.8%	no clear change
Housing units	16,327±57	2,778,572	−815
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.8 pts	0.5%	–
Rental vacancy rate	0.7%±0.7 pts	4.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	81.2%±1.8 pts	66.2%	–
Mobile homes	6.0%±0.8 pts	3.1%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.8%±0.6 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	19.5%±1.9 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 Lincoln County building?

Builders took permits for 139 new housing units across Lincoln County in 2025 (131 single-family), 4.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 82 units
2020 134 units
2021 186 units
2022 123 units
2023 174 units
2024 143 units
2025 139 units

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

How do people in Lincoln County get to work?

78.8% of Lincoln County's workers drive alone and 11.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Lincoln County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.5%±1.1 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.2%±0.7 pts	3.2%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	78.8%±2.1 pts	74.4%	–
Carpooled	6.3%±1.1 pts	7.3%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.4 pts	1.1%	–
Walked	1.7%±0.8 pts	2.6%	–
Worked from home	11.6%±1.7 pts	13.1%	+7.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.5 min±1.1	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 Lincoln County's census tracts?

Lincoln County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $48,846 (Tract 9610) to $91,004 (Tract 9606).

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

Tract 960155069960100	Tomahawk (1%)	2,283	2,249±180	$81,321	$275,700	$850	3.4%
Tract 960255069960200	Tomahawk (88%)	2,634	2,570±214	$60,469	$165,900	$520	14.4%
Tract 960355069960300	Tomahawk (8%)	1,851	1,724±181	$77,400	$262,300	$608	8.3%
Tract 960455069960400	–	1,883	1,879±150	$76,964	$224,200	$1,029	7.1%
Tract 960555069960500	Tomahawk (7%)	1,914	1,852±200	$67,578	$201,400	$714	6.3%
Tract 960655069960600	Merrill (4%)	4,438	4,134±256	$91,004	$237,500	$777	4.4%
Tract 960755069960700	Merrill (5%)	3,845	4,208±237	$79,744	$194,100	$798	6.5%
Tract 960855069960800	Merrill (87%)	3,468	3,652±419	$57,349	$119,600	$872	18.9%
Tract 960955069960900	Merrill (98%)	2,637	2,512±320	$52,098	$129,000	$647	13.3%
Tract 961055069961000	Merrill (83%)	3,462	3,646±406	$48,846	$150,300	$675	19.1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Lincoln County compare with Wisconsin's other counties?

Lincoln County's rank among Wisconsin's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	45th of 72
Growth 2020-2025	55th of 72
Residents per square mile	48th of 72
Median household income	47th of 72
Median home value	58th of 72
Median gross rent	65th of 72
Poverty rate	33rd of 72
Bachelor's degree or higher	57th of 72
Median age	14th 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 Lincoln 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.