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News of the Day October 13, 2026
Wisconsin’s Population Up 2.9% Compared to 2020
Wisconsin’s population has increased nearly 2.9% as of January 1, 2026 compared to the 2020 Census, according to final numbers from the state Department of Administration.
Dane County saw the largest increase in the state over that period, both in terms of raw numbers and as a percentage of its 2020 population. The county was at 621,365 residents, up 59,861 compared to six years earlier. That was an increase of 10.7%.
Calumet County grew by 4,801 residents, an increase of 9.15%, while St. Croix County added 7,446 residents, an increase of nearly 8%. Eau Claire County was next on the list with 7,365 more residents, a bump of nearly 7%.
In terms of raw numbers, Waukesha County added 12,768 residents, while Brown County added 11,324.
Milwaukee County, the state’s largest at 945,488, has added 5,999 residents since the 2020 census, an increase of 0.64%.
Eleven counties have seen a population decrease since 2020: Ashland, Price, Langlade, Manitowoc, Richland, Iron, Fond du Lac, Wood, Buffalo, Grant and Menominee.