Which counties in Wisconsin are people leaving?

20 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025. Clark County had the largest net outflow for its size: 5.3 per 1,000 residents (−186 people). In people, Milwaukee County had the largest net outflow (−4,697).

Net out-migration does not always mean fewer residents: 11 of these 20 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

Data as of 2025 · updated November 5, 2026

See the list All Wisconsin counties

Want Pro for Wisconsin? Get notified

All 20 Wisconsin counties with net out-migration

Counties with the most out-migration in Wisconsin
Rank	County	Per 1,000 residents, 2025	Net movers 2025	Residents	Population change 2020–25
1	Clark County	−5.3	−186	35,052	+1.2%
2	Milwaukee County	−5.1	−4,697	924,216	−1.5%
3	Pepin County	−4.9	−37	7,513	+2.2%
4	Price County	−3.0	−42	13,988	−0.3%
5	Iron County	−2.6	−16	6,127	−0.3%
6	Lafayette County	−2.5	−44	17,478	+5.2%
7	Barron County	−2.2	−103	46,484	−0.5%
8	Buffalo County	−2.2	−29	13,318	−0.1%
9	Wood County	−2.1	−152	74,060	−0.2%
10	Richland County	−1.9	−33	17,036	−1.4%
11	Fond du Lac County	−1.8	−193	104,669	+0.5%
12	Jefferson County	−1.7	−145	86,505	+0.3%
13	Grant County	−1.5	−78	52,446	+0.9%
14	Iowa County	−1.5	−35	23,951	+1.0%
15	Sheboygan County	−1.1	−127	118,047	+0.0%
16	Monroe County	−0.8	−35	46,572	+0.6%
17	Kenosha County	−0.7	−125	168,448	−0.4%
18	Manitowoc County	−0.5	−41	81,710	+0.4%
19	Jackson County	−0.3	−7	20,999	−0.5%
20	Sauk County	−0.3	−21	66,652	+1.3%

How this is ranked

Counties where more residents moved away to other U.S. counties than moved in (negative net domestic migration in the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025), per 1,000 residents, largest net outflow first. Moves from and to other countries, births and deaths are not counted. Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Get the report for any Wisconsin county — $99

The County Growth and Demographics Report for any county as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

Choose a county — $99

Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.

Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
Instant PDF download
PDF + CSV of every table

Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number

Questions

Which county in Wisconsin are the most people leaving?

For its size, Clark County: net domestic migration of −5.3 per 1,000 residents in 2025 (−186 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Milwaukee County (−5.1) and Pepin County (−4.9).

How many counties in Wisconsin have more people moving out than in?

20 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin had more residents move away to other U.S. counties than move in during 2025.

Does net out-migration mean a county is losing population?

Not always. Net domestic migration counts moves between U.S. counties only; births, deaths and international migration also change the total. 11 of these 20 counties still had more residents in 2025 than in 2020.

More county rankings for Wisconsin

Counties with the most out-migration in other states

Across the U.S.