Fastest-growing counties in Wisconsin
Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.
This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.
As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."
Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Wisconsin. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Wisconsin using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.
#50. Menominee County
--- #1,461 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.5%
--- #45 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,405 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,255
--- #72 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,867 largest county nationwide
#49. Waushara County
--- #1,460 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.1%
--- #50 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,472 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,520
--- #47 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,626 largest county nationwide
#48. Juneau County
--- #1,427 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.2%
--- #49 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,458 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 26,718
--- #46 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,538 largest county nationwide
#47. Marinette County
--- #1,378 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.3%
--- #48 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,445 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 41,872
--- #36 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,146 largest county nationwide
#46. Florence County
--- #1,366 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.1%
--- #28 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,051 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,558
--- #71 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,848 largest county nationwide
#45. Douglas County
--- #1,364 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.3%
--- #47 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,444 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 44,295
--- #34 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,089 largest county nationwide
#44. Marquette County
--- #1,337 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.2%
--- #41 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,306 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,592
--- #64 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,057 largest county nationwide
#43. Iron County
--- #1,314 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.7%
--- #21 among counties in Wisconsin, #960 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,137
--- #70 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,727 largest county nationwide
#42. Green County
--- #1,295 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #44 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,382 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,093
--- #40 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,248 largest county nationwide
#41. Portage County
--- #1,227 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.5%
--- #46 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,412 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 70,377
--- #23 largest county in Wisconsin, #769 largest county nationwide
#40. Dodge County
--- #1,108 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.7%
--- #43 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,376 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 89,396
--- #19 largest county in Wisconsin, #661 largest county nationwide
#39. Jackson County
--- #1,092 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.4%
--- #26 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,001 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,145
--- #50 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,758 largest county nationwide
#38. Washburn County
--- #1,087 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.5%
--- #18 among counties in Wisconsin, #880 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,623
--- #58 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,995 largest county nationwide
#37. Grant County
--- #1,079 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.4%
--- #40 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,262 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 51,938
--- #28 largest county in Wisconsin, #966 largest county nationwide
#36. Polk County
--- #1,066 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.7%
--- #37 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,219 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 44,977
--- #33 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,072 largest county nationwide
#35. Barron County
--- #1,049 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.8%
--- #36 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,212 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 46,711
--- #30 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,039 largest county nationwide
#34. Vernon County
--- #1,014 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.2%
--- #27 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,033 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,714
--- #43 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,416 largest county nationwide
#33. Burnett County
--- #985 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.9%
--- #11 among counties in Wisconsin, #640 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,526
--- #60 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,004 largest county nationwide
#32. Pierce County
--- #961 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.9%
--- #31 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,070 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 42,212
--- #35 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,139 largest county nationwide
#31. Bayfield County
--- #960 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.0%
--- #6 among counties in Wisconsin, #564 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,220
--- #61 largest county in Wisconsin, #2,020 largest county nationwide
#30. Jefferson County
--- #959 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.5%
--- #39 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,259 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 84,900
--- #20 largest county in Wisconsin, #677 largest county nationwide
#29. Oconto County
--- #947 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.5%
--- #25 among counties in Wisconsin, #993 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 38,965
--- #38 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,203 largest county nationwide
#28. Sawyer County
--- #900 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.2%
--- #3 among counties in Wisconsin, #469 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,074
--- #56 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,912 largest county nationwide
#27. Dunn County
--- #886 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.6%
--- #23 among counties in Wisconsin, #972 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 45,440
--- #32 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,065 largest county nationwide
#26. Monroe County
--- #882 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.6%
--- #24 among counties in Wisconsin, #975 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 46,274
--- #31 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,047 largest county nationwide
#25. Vilas County
--- #880 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.5%
--- #8 among counties in Wisconsin, #594 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 23,047
--- #49 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,676 largest county nationwide
#24. Columbia County
--- #873 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.9%
--- #30 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,069 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 58,490
--- #26 largest county in Wisconsin, #895 largest county nationwide
#23. Oneida County
--- #840 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.1%
--- #17 among counties in Wisconsin, #804 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,845
--- #39 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,226 largest county nationwide
#22. Trempealeau County
--- #826 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.7%
--- #12 among counties in Wisconsin, #650 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,760
--- #42 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,415 largest county nationwide
#21. Door County
--- #785 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.2%
--- #5 among counties in Wisconsin, #548 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,066
--- #44 largest county in Wisconsin, #1,432 largest county nationwide
#20. Racine County
--- #779 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.2%
--- #42 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,312 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 197,727
--- #5 largest county in Wisconsin, #343 largest county nationwide
#19. Fond du Lac County
--- #750 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.5%
--- #33 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,119 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 104,154
--- #16 largest county in Wisconsin, #585 largest county nationwide
#18. Sheboygan County
--- #749 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.2%
--- #34 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,155 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 118,034
--- #13 largest county in Wisconsin, #532 largest county nationwide
#17. Kenosha County
--- #742 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.6%
--- #38 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,236 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 169,151
--- #8 largest county in Wisconsin, #393 largest county nationwide
#16. Rock County
--- #673 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.1%
--- #35 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,168 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 163,687
--- #9 largest county in Wisconsin, #408 largest county nationwide
#15. Calumet County
--- #666 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.1%
--- #9 among counties in Wisconsin, #625 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 52,442
--- #27 largest county in Wisconsin, #962 largest county nationwide
#14. Sauk County
--- #638 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.1%
--- #14 among counties in Wisconsin, #700 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 65,763
--- #25 largest county in Wisconsin, #816 largest county nationwide
#13. Chippewa County
--- #635 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +6.2%
--- #13 among counties in Wisconsin, #683 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 66,297
--- #24 largest county in Wisconsin, #808 largest county nationwide
#12. Marathon County
--- #632 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.9%
--- #29 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,064 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 138,013
--- #10 largest county in Wisconsin, #471 largest county nationwide
#11. Walworth County
--- #607 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.2%
--- #20 among counties in Wisconsin, #913 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 106,478
--- #14 largest county in Wisconsin, #576 largest county nationwide
#10. Winnebago County
--- #581 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.8%
--- #32 among counties in Wisconsin, #1,081 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 171,730
--- #7 largest county in Wisconsin, #385 largest county nationwide
#9. Washington County
--- #574 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.7%
--- #22 among counties in Wisconsin, #965 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 136,761
--- #11 largest county in Wisconsin, #474 largest county nationwide
#8. Ozaukee County
--- #562 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.9%
--- #15 among counties in Wisconsin, #727 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 91,503
--- #18 largest county in Wisconsin, #652 largest county nationwide
#7. La Crosse County
--- #532 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.4%
--- #16 among counties in Wisconsin, #787 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 120,784
--- #12 largest county in Wisconsin, #523 largest county nationwide
#6. Eau Claire County
--- #510 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.1%
--- #10 among counties in Wisconsin, #628 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 105,710
--- #15 largest county in Wisconsin, #581 largest county nationwide
#5. St. Croix County
--- #446 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +10.9%
--- #2 among counties in Wisconsin, #374 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 93,536
--- #17 largest county in Wisconsin, #643 largest county nationwide
#4. Outagamie County
--- #357 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +7.9%
--- #7 among counties in Wisconsin, #572 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 190,705
--- #6 largest county in Wisconsin, #352 largest county nationwide
#3. Waukesha County
--- #321 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.4%
--- #19 among counties in Wisconsin, #886 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 406,978
--- #3 largest county in Wisconsin, #175 largest county nationwide
#2. Brown County
--- #284 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.4%
--- #4 among counties in Wisconsin, #531 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 268,740
--- #4 largest county in Wisconsin, #260 largest county nationwide
#1. Dane County
--- #81 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +15.0%
--- #1 among counties in Wisconsin, #225 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 561,504
--- #2 largest county in Wisconsin, #124 largest county nationwide