Population
51,461
2025
−0.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Waupaca County, WI: population growth, jobs and income
Waupaca County gained 32 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Waupaca County had an estimated 51,461 residents in 2025, down 0.7% (338 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Wisconsin as a whole (+1.3%), and the 66th fastest growth of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Waupaca County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Waupaca County, ranked against Wisconsin and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$852/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes12.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1462025-10/2026-09
- 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
+203
2025
3.9 per 1,000 residents
+636 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
3.1%
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
214
2025
+13.8% since 2021
4.2 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
$72,830
2020–24
+21.2% 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
15,170
2023
−4.5% 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 203 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 15,170 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −4.5% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.1% in 2025, 0.1 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 214 new homes in 2025, or 4.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $72,830 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.2% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,091st.
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Waupaca County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51,461 | +32 |
| 2024 | 51,429 | −3 |
| 2023 | 51,432 | −228 |
| 2022 | 51,660 | −226 |
| 2021 | 51,886 | +87 |
| 2020 | 51,799 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Waupaca County
Waupaca County lost 338 people since 2020 even though 636 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 1,197, and net international migration added 245.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −182 | −1,197 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +14 | +245 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +203 | +636 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −3 | −22 | |
| Total change | +32 | −338 |
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 | 66th of 72 | 2,091st of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 27th of 72 | 1,232nd of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 61st of 72 | 2,419th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 37th of 72 | 975th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 29th of 72 | 532nd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 31st of 72 | 781st 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 Waupaca 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.
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Neighbouring counties
Waupaca County lost population faster than all 6 of its neighbouring counties (−0.7%, 2020–25).
4 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Waupaca County's $72,830 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca County, WI This county | 51,461 | −0.7% | 3.9 | 4.2 | $72,830 |
| Shawano County, WI | 41,560 | +1.7% | 3.9 | 2.8 | $66,479 |
| Waushara County, WI | 25,223 | +2.8% | 11.5 | 4.0 | $67,107 |
| Portage County, WI | 71,943 | +2.2% | 3.4 | 3.4 | $76,070 |
| Outagamie County, WI | 195,894 | +2.6% | 3.3 | 5.2 | $85,069 |
| Winnebago County, WI | 174,218 | +1.4% | 4.0 | 3.9 | $74,925 |
| Marathon County, WI | 139,432 | +1.0% | 0.4 | 2.5 | $77,884 |
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 Waupaca County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 338 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Wisconsin as a whole changed +1.3% over the same years. That ranks 66th of 72 counties in Wisconsin for population growth.
How many people moved to Waupaca County?
On net, about 203 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 Waupaca County?
It averaged 3.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Waupaca County?
About 51,461 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Waupaca County?
Private employers there had 15,170 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −4.5% 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.
Waupaca County data alerts
Email me when Waupaca 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.