Population
17,478
2025
+5.2% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Lafayette County, WI: population growth, jobs and income
Lafayette County gained 131 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.8%).
Lafayette County had an estimated 17,478 residents in 2025, up 5.2% (859 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Wisconsin as a whole (+1.3%), and the 1st fastest growth of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Lafayette County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Lafayette County, ranked against Wisconsin and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$830/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes6.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months592025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−44
2025
−2.5 per 1,000 residents
−23 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
2.7%
2025
−0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
46
2025
−17.9% since 2021
2.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$76,462
2020–24
+25.2% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
3,808
2023
+26.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 44 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 3,808 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +26.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.7% in 2025, 0.1 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 46 new homes in 2025, or 2.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $76,462 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +25.2% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 588th.
Get Lafayette County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Lafayette County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Lafayette County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17,478 | +131 |
| 2024 | 17,347 | +280 |
| 2023 | 17,067 | +110 |
| 2022 | 16,957 | +123 |
| 2021 | 16,834 | +215 |
| 2020 | 16,619 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Lafayette County
Lafayette County grew by 859 people since 2020 even though 23 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 463, and net international migration added 422.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +99 | +463 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +76 | +422 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −44 | −23 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −3 | |
| Total change | +131 | +859 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Wisconsin | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 1st of 72 | 588th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 67th of 72 | 2,294th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 1st of 72 | 116th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 21st of 72 | 748th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 5th of 72 | 222nd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 58th of 72 | 1,256th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Lafayette County, WI 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.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Grant County and Stephenson County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Lafayette County grew faster than all 5 of its neighbouring counties (+5.2%, 2020–25).
2 of its 5 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Lafayette County's $76,462 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County, WI This county | 17,478 | +5.2% | −2.5 | 2.6 | $76,462 |
| Jo Daviess County, IL | 21,594 | −2.2% | 0.9 | 1.9 | $73,993 |
| Iowa County, WI | 23,951 | +1.0% | −1.5 | 2.9 | $82,182 |
| Green County, WI | 37,227 | +0.5% | 0.5 | 2.2 | $82,852 |
| Stephenson County, IL | 43,220 | −3.0% | −0.4 | 0.3 | $64,043 |
| Grant County, WI | 52,446 | +0.9% | −1.5 | 2.3 | $66,858 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Lafayette County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 5.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 859 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Wisconsin as a whole changed +1.3% over the same years. That ranks 1st of 72 counties in Wisconsin for population growth.
How many people moved to Lafayette County?
On net, none in 2025: about 44 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Lafayette County?
It averaged 2.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Lafayette County?
About 17,478 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Lafayette County?
Private employers there had 3,808 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +26.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Wisconsin
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Wisconsin county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Lafayette County data alerts
Email me when Lafayette County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.