Counties in Wisconsin with the highest growth rates
What motivates individuals to relocate from one county or locale to another? The common factors usually include employment opportunities, family, romantic partners, and general expenses of living, yet various other factors come into consideration. For parents, residing near a well-regarded school district is a vital element. For younger individuals starting their life journey, being in a place with an active social environment could be paramount. And for retirees, the aim is to find communities that are welcoming to older adults—areas considered secure, provide easy access to health services and recreational pursuits, and remain budget-friendly for those with fixed incomes.
However, this certainly does not encompass the entire spectrum. The motivations behind people’s choices of residence are as varied as humanity itself.
In terms of why specific counties throughout the U.S. have seen growth, moving is neither the exclusive nor the primary cause. While over 1,800 counties recorded population increases in 2021, around 73% of all U.S. counties experienced what the U.S. Census Bureau describes as a natural decline. This represented a stark rise from 2020, when 55.5% of counties saw such a decline. The Bureau explains that a natural decrease occurs “when the number of deaths exceeds births in a population over a specified time frame.” In 2021, the combination of reduced births alongside an aging demographic facing an increased mortality rate due to the persistent COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this “elevated decline.”
Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, 1,800 counties across the nation have seen expansion over the past year, with a considerable portion located in Wisconsin. Stacker has compiled a list of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing counties based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are listed according to their population growth from 2010 to 2020, in accordance with the U.S. Decennial Census.
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#50. Menominee County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +23
— Rank #1,461 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.5%
— Rank #45 among Wisconsin counties, #1,405 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 4,255
— #72 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,867 largest county nationwide
#49. Waushara County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +24
— Rank #1,460 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.1%
— Rank #50 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,472 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 24,520
— #47 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,626 largest county nationwide
#48. Juneau County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +54
— Rank #1,427 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.2%
— Rank #49 among Wisconsin counties, #1,458 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 26,718
— #46 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,538 largest county nationwide
#47. Marinette County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +123
— Rank #1,378 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.3%
— Rank #48 among Wisconsin counties, #1,445 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 41,872
— #36 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,146 largest county nationwide
#46. Florence County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +135
— Rank #1,366 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.1%
— Rank #28 among Wisconsin counties, #1,051 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 4,558
— #71 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,848 largest county nationwide
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#45. Douglas County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +136
— Rank #1,364 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.3%
— Rank #47 among Wisconsin counties, #1,444 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 44,295
— #34 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,089 largest county nationwide
#44. Marquette County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +188
— Rank #1,337 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.2%
— Rank #41 among Wisconsin counties, #1,306 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 15,592
— #64 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,057 largest county nationwide
#43. Iron County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +221
— Rank #1,314 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.7%
— Rank #21 among Wisconsin counties, #960 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 6,137
— #70 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,727 largest county nationwide
#42. Green County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +251
— Rank #1,295 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.7%
— Rank #44 among Wisconsin counties, #1,382 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 37,093
— #40 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,248 largest county nationwide
#41. Portage County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +358
— Rank #1,227 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.5%
— Rank #46 among Wisconsin counties, #1,412 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 70,377
— #23 largest county in Wisconsin, #769 largest county nationwide
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#40. Dodge County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +637
— Rank #1,108 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +0.7%
— Rank #43 among Wisconsin counties, #1,376 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 89,396
— #19 largest county in Wisconsin, #661 largest county nationwide
#39. Jackson County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +696
— Rank #1,092 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.4%
— Rank #26 among Wisconsin counties, #1,001 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 21,145
— #50 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,758 largest county nationwide
#38. Washburn County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +712
— Rank #1,087 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +4.5%
— Rank #18 among Wisconsin counties, #880 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 16,623
— #58 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,995 largest county nationwide
#37. Grant County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +730
— Rank #1,079 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.4%
— Rank #40 among Wisconsin counties, #1,262 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 51,938
— #28 largest county in Wisconsin, #966 largest county nationwide
#36. Polk County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +772
— Rank #1,066 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.7%
— Rank #37 among Wisconsin counties, #1,219 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 44,977
— #33 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,072 largest county nationwide
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#35. Barron County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +841
— Rank #1,049 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.8%
— Rank #36 among Wisconsin counties, #1,212 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 46,711
— #30 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,039 largest county nationwide
#34. Vernon County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +941
— Rank #1,014 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.2%
— Rank #27 among Wisconsin counties, #1,033 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 30,714
— #43 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,416 largest county nationwide
#33. Burnett County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,069
— Rank #985 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +6.9%
— Rank #11 among Wisconsin counties, #640 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 16,526
— #60 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,004 largest county nationwide
#32. Pierce County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,193
— Rank #961 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.9%
— Rank #31 among Wisconsin counties, #1,070 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 42,212
— #35 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,139 largest county nationwide
#31. Bayfield County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,206
— Rank #960 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +8.0%
— Rank #6 among Wisconsin counties, #564 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 16,220
— #61 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,020 largest county nationwide
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#30. Jefferson County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,214
— Rank #959 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.5%
— Rank #39 among Wisconsin counties, #1,259 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 84,900
— #20 largest county in Wisconsin, #677 largest county nationwide
#29. Oconto County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,305
— Rank #947 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.5%
— Rank #25 among Wisconsin counties, #993 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 38,965
— #38 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,203 largest county nationwide
#28. Sawyer County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,517
— Rank #900 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +9.2%
— Rank #3 among Wisconsin counties, #469 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 18,074
— #56 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,912 largest county nationwide
#27. Dunn County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,583
— Rank #886 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.6%
— Rank #23 among Wisconsin counties, #972 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 45,440
— #32 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,065 largest county nationwide
#26. Monroe County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,601
— Rank #882 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.6%
— Rank #24 among Wisconsin counties, #975 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 46,274
— #31 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,047 largest county nationwide
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#25. Vilas County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,617
— Rank #880 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +7.5%
— Rank #8 among Wisconsin counties, #594 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 23,047
— #49 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,676 largest county nationwide
#24. Columbia County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,657
— Rank #873 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.9%
— Rank #30 among Wisconsin counties, #1,069 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 58,490
— #26 largest county in Wisconsin, #895 largest county nationwide
#23. Oneida County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,847
— Rank #840 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +5.1%
— Rank #17 among Wisconsin counties, #804 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 37,845
— #39 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,226 largest county nationwide
#22. Trempealeau County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +1,944
— Rank #826 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +6.7%
— Rank #12 among Wisconsin counties, #650 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 30,760
— #42 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,415 largest county nationwide
#21. Door County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +2,281
— Rank #785 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +8.2%
— Rank #5 among Wisconsin counties, #548 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 30,066
— #44 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,432 largest county nationwide
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#20. Racine County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +2,319
— Rank #779 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.2%
— Rank #42 among Wisconsin counties, #1,312 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 197,727
— #5 largest county in Wisconsin, #343 largest county nationwide
#19. Fond du Lac County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +2,521
— Rank #750 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.5%
— Rank #33 among Wisconsin counties, #1,119 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 104,154
— #16 largest county in Wisconsin, #585 largest county nationwide
#18. Sheboygan County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +2,527
— Rank #749 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.2%
— Rank #34 among Wisconsin counties, #1,155 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 118,034
— #13 largest county in Wisconsin, #532 largest county nationwide
#17. Kenosha County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +2,725
— Rank #742 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +1.6%
— Rank #38 among Wisconsin counties, #1,236 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 169,151
— #8 largest county in Wisconsin, #393 largest county nationwide
#16. Rock County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +3,356
— Rank #673 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.1%
— Rank #35 among Wisconsin counties, #1,168 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 163,687
— #9 largest county in Wisconsin, #408 largest county nationwide
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#15. Calumet County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +3,471
— Rank #666 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +7.1%
— Rank #9 among Wisconsin counties, #625 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 52,442
— #27 largest county in Wisconsin, #962 largest county nationwide
#14. Sauk County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +3,787
— Rank #638 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +6.1%
— Rank #14 among Wisconsin counties, #700 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 65,763
— #25 largest county in Wisconsin, #816 largest county nationwide
#13. Chippewa County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +3,882
— Rank #635 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +6.2%
— Rank #13 among Wisconsin counties, #683 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 66,297
— #24 largest county in Wisconsin, #808 largest county nationwide
#12. Marathon County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +3,950
— Rank #632 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.9%
— Rank #29 among Wisconsin counties, #1,064 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 138,013
— #10 largest county in Wisconsin, #471 largest county nationwide
#11. Walworth County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +4,250
— Rank #607 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +4.2%
— Rank #20 among Wisconsin counties, #913 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 106,478
— #14 largest county in Wisconsin, #576 largest county nationwide
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#10. Winnebago County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +4,736
— Rank #581 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +2.8%
— Rank #32 among Wisconsin counties, #1,081 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 171,730
— #7 largest county in Wisconsin, #385 largest county nationwide
#9. Washington County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +4,874
— Rank #574 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +3.7%
— Rank #22 among Wisconsin counties, #965 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 136,761
— #11 largest county in Wisconsin, #474 largest county nationwide
#8. Ozaukee County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +5,108
— Rank #562 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +5.9%
— Rank #15 among Wisconsin counties, #727 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 91,503
— #18 largest county in Wisconsin, #652 largest county nationwide
#7. La Crosse County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +6,146
— Rank #532 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +5.4%
— Rank #16 among Wisconsin counties, #787 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 120,784
— #12 largest county in Wisconsin, #523 largest county nationwide
#6. Eau Claire County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +6,974
— Rank #510 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +7.1%
— Rank #10 among Wisconsin counties, #628 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 105,710
— #15 largest county in Wisconsin, #581 largest county nationwide
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#5. St. Croix County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +9,191
— Rank #446 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +10.9%
— Rank #2 among Wisconsin counties, #374 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 93,536
— #17 largest county in Wisconsin, #643 largest county nationwide
#4. Outagamie County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +14,010
— Rank #357 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +7.9%
— Rank #7 among counties in Wisconsin, #572 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 190,705
— #6 largest county in Wisconsin, #352 largest county nationwide
#3. Waukesha County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +17,087
— Rank #321 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +4.4%
— Rank #19 among counties in Wisconsin, #886 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 406,978
— #3 largest county in Wisconsin, #175 largest county nationwide
#2. Brown County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +20,733
— Rank #284 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +8.4%
— Rank #4 among counties in Wisconsin, #531 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 268,740
— #4 largest county in Wisconsin, #260 largest county nationwide
#1. Dane County
– Population change from 2010 to 2020: +73,431
— Rank #81 among all counties nationwide
– Percentage change in population from 2010 to 2020: +15.0%
— Rank #1 among counties in Wisconsin, #225 among all counties nationally
– Population in 2020: 561,504
— #2 largest county in Wisconsin, #124 largest county nationwide
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