Wisconsin · GEOID 55065

Lafayette County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 16,942 · 7,234 housing units

Median household income

$76,462

State $78,421

Median home value

$194,500

State $270,495

Median gross rent

$830

State $1,096

Homeownership rate

80.2%

State 67.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

37.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.4%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.5%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.8%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

6.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.54

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Lafayette County	Wisconsin
Population	16,942	5,914,872
Population density (per sq. mi.)	26.74	—
Median household income	$76,462	$78,421
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$96,800	—
Households	6,763	—
Average household size	2.49 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.2%	67.8%
Renter-occupied	19.8%	32.2%
Race	91.0% White · 0.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Lafayette County compared with Wisconsin.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

22.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	14.5%	$45,663	$1,142	$138,954
1 earner	28.7%	$64,361	$1,609	$208,554
2 earners	45.3%	$111,076	$2,777	$382,443
3+ earners	11.5%	$145,700	$3,643	$511,325

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

6,763

Average size: 2.49 people

Households with children

1,786

26.4% of households

Per-capita income

$37,123

Poverty rate: 10.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 85.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 8.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

67.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,966.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $194,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $830.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 471 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.2% · For rent 14.6% · Seasonal 24.8% · Other 35.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

39.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 60.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.6%

117 units of 7,234 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.3%

166 units of 7,234 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$61,170

100% MHI$76,462

120% MHI$91,754

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Lafayette County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$54,250	$62,000	$77,450
100% AMI	$67,760	$77,440	$96,800
120% AMI	$81,300	$92,950	$116,150

HUD FMR Area: Lafayette County, WI. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

37.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.4% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Lafayette County.

Covered employment

3,503

Across 11 sectors

Establishments

368

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$56,135

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,202	$58,922	$188,308	−$6,192	$1,473
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	533	$44,159	$133,355	−$61,145	$1,104
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	404	$71,676	$235,783	+$41,283	$1,792
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	352	$33,371	$93,199	−$101,301	$834
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	287	$58,860	$188,077	−$6,423	$1,472
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	267	$61,781	$198,950	+$4,450	$1,545
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	226	$67,504	$220,253	+$25,753	$1,688
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	162	$58,061	$185,103	−$9,397	$1,452
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	32	$52,864	$165,758	−$28,742	$1,322
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	25	$61,293	$197,134	+$2,634	$1,532
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	13	$23,163	$55,201	−$139,299	$579

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	996	$60,728	$195,031	+$531	$1,518
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	533	$44,159	$133,355	−$61,145	$1,104
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	392	$72,263	$237,968	+$43,468	$1,807
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	349	$43,558	$131,118	−$63,382	$1,089
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	258	$36,607	$105,244	−$89,256	$915
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	197	$13,646	$19,776	−$174,724	$341
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	147	$51,435	$160,439	−$34,061	$1,286
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	139	$26,300	$66,878	−$127,622	$658
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	97	$55,377	$175,112	−$19,388	$1,384
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	82	$16,854	$31,717	−$162,783	$421
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	80	$52,521	$164,481	−$30,019	$1,313
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	75	$27,005	$69,502	−$124,998	$675
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	65	$55,768	$176,568	−$17,932	$1,394
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	64	$38,644	$112,827	−$81,673	$966
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	53	$56,031	$177,547	−$16,953	$1,401
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	45	$20,544	$45,452	−$149,048	$514
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	31	$43,638	$131,416	−$63,084	$1,091
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	25	$61,293	$197,134	+$2,634	$1,532
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	13	$23,163	$55,201	−$139,299	$579
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	12	$61,060	$196,267	+$1,767	$1,527
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	6	$45,677	$139,006	−$55,494	$1,142
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	4	$70,588	$231,733	+$37,233	$1,765

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	5,860	950	19%	$13.40	$27,880	$72,759	$697
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	6,380	(860)	(12%)	$14.87	$30,930	$84,112	$773
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	3,470	(860)	(20%)	$15.29	$31,800	$87,351	$795
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	210	(230)	(52%)	$15.78	$32,820	$91,148	$821
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	5,100	(1,270)	(20%)	$17.24	$35,850	$102,426	$896
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	3,100	40	1%	$17.96	$37,350	$108,010	$934
Tellers SOC 43-3071	820	(340)	(29%)	$18.98	$39,470	$115,901	$987
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	430	(580)	(57%)	$20.25	$42,110	$125,728	$1,053
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,290	(1,040)	(31%)	$21.29	$44,270	$133,768	$1,107
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	4,170	(2,460)	(37%)	$21.38	$44,470	$134,513	$1,112
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,820	(240)	(8%)	$25.21	$52,430	$164,143	$1,311
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,980	150	4%	$26.63	$55,390	$175,161	$1,385
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	210	(770)	(79%)	$26.83	$55,800	$176,687	$1,395
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	2,180	880	68%	$27.62	$57,440	$182,792	$1,436
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,070	330	45%	$29.29	$60,920	$195,745	$1,523
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	2,450	360	17%	—	$62,170	$200,398	$1,554
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,120	(420)	(27%)	$32.54	$67,670	$220,871	$1,692
Electricians SOC 47-2111	900	300	50%	$33.30	$69,270	$226,827	$1,732
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	600	50	9%	$37.03	$77,020	$255,675	$1,926
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,060	70	2%	$43.65	$90,790	$306,932	$2,270

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 55065 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.