Population
23,761
2025
+2.9% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Vilas County, WI: population growth, jobs and income
Vilas County gained 8 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.0%).
Vilas County had an estimated 23,761 residents in 2025, up 2.9% (668 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Wisconsin as a whole (+1.3%), and the 13th fastest growth of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Vilas County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Vilas County, ranked against Wisconsin and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$847/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes55.2%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months2492025-10/2026-09
- 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
+255
2025
10.7 per 1,000 residents
+1,773 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
4.0%
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
314
2025
+23.1% since 2021
13.2 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
$68,431
2020–24
+36.8% 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
5,887
2023
−2.9% 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 added 255 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 5,887 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.9% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.0% in 2025, 0.1 points lower than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 314 new homes in 2025, or 13.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $68,431 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +36.8% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,009th.
Get Vilas County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Vilas County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Vilas County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23,761 | +8 |
| 2024 | 23,753 | −69 |
| 2023 | 23,822 | +100 |
| 2022 | 23,722 | +233 |
| 2021 | 23,489 | +396 |
| 2020 | 23,093 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Vilas County
Vilas County grew by 668 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+1,773).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −240 | −1,091 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −3 | −9 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +255 | +1,773 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −4 | −5 | |
| Total change | +8 | +668 |
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 | 13th of 72 | 1,009th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 4th of 72 | 470th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 51st of 72 | 2,252nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 45th of 72 | 1,291st of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 58th of 72 | 1,614th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 1st of 72 | 69th 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 Vilas 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 Oneida County and Gogebic County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Vilas County's population change (+2.9%) was ahead of 5 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 1 (Forest County).
Only Oneida County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 6 neighbouring counties; Vilas County's was $68,431.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vilas County, WI This county | 23,761 | +2.9% | 10.7 | 13.2 | $68,431 |
| Oneida County, WI | 38,131 | +0.7% | 5.2 | 9.1 | $69,371 |
| Gogebic County, MI | 14,285 | −0.4% | 9.5 | 1.6 | $52,732 |
| Forest County, WI | 9,574 | +4.4% | 8.6 | 4.8 | $61,071 |
| Iron County, WI | 6,127 | −0.3% | −2.6 | 7.2 | $60,625 |
| Iron County, MI | 11,757 | +1.1% | 6.5 | 13.7 | $55,940 |
| Price County, WI | 13,988 | −0.3% | −3.0 | 3.0 | $60,546 |
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 Vilas County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.9% between 2020 and 2025, about 668 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Wisconsin as a whole changed +1.3% over the same years. That ranks 13th of 72 counties in Wisconsin for population growth.
How many people moved to Vilas County?
On net, about 255 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Vilas County?
It averaged 4.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Vilas County?
About 23,761 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Vilas County?
Private employers there had 5,887 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −2.9% 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.
Vilas County data alerts
Email me when Vilas 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.