County facts · Population growth · October 23, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in Wisconsin, 2020 to 2025
Wisconsin's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in Wisconsin? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, Wisconsin went from about 5,894,323 to 5,972,787 residents, a change of +78,464 (+1.3%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Adams County (+5.3%), while Dane County added the most people (+28,868, +5.1%).
Each table links the county's Platbookmapper page and its official parcel viewer, so you can go from the growth numbers straight to the property lines.
Wisconsin growth at a glance
- County: 72
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +78,464 residents (+1.3%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +15,619 (+0.3%)
- Grew: 54 of 72 · Lost residents: 18
- Fastest growing by percent: Adams County (+5.3%); most people added: Dane County (+28,868)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 53 of 72
The 10 fastest growing Wisconsin counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adams County | 20,651 | 21,752 | +1,101 | +5.3% | listed link under review |
| 2 | Lafayette County | 16,611 | 17,478 | +867 | +5.2% | ArcGIS Instant Apps |
| 3 | Dane County | 561,507 | 590,375 | +28,868 | +5.1% | listed link under review |
| 4 | St. Croix County | 93,534 | 98,276 | +4,742 | +5.1% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 5 | Forest County | 9,184 | 9,574 | +390 | +4.2% | WinGIS Xtreme |
| 6 | Sawyer County | 18,084 | 18,846 | +762 | +4.2% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 7 | Burnett County | 16,528 | 17,223 | +695 | +4.2% | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 8 | Florence County | 4,559 | 4,748 | +189 | +4.1% | county web map |
| 9 | Bayfield County | 16,220 | 16,787 | +567 | +3.5% | county web map |
| 10 | Oconto County | 38,967 | 40,195 | +1,228 | +3.2% | county web map |
These 10 added about 39,409 people combined. The median county changed by +1.3%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dane County | +28,868 | +5.1% | 590,375 | listed link under review |
| 2 | Waukesha County | +10,221 | +2.5% | 417,210 | county web map |
| 3 | Brown County | +7,067 | +2.6% | 275,803 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 4 | Outagamie County | +5,194 | +2.7% | 195,894 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 5 | St. Croix County | +4,742 | +5.1% | 98,276 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 6 | Eau Claire County | +3,327 | +3.1% | 109,033 | Beacon (Schneider Geospatial) |
| 7 | Ozaukee County | +2,842 | +3.1% | 94,346 | county web map |
| 8 | Rock County | +2,788 | +1.7% | 166,472 | ArcGIS Instant Apps |
| 9 | Winnebago County | +2,478 | +1.4% | 174,218 | county web map |
| 10 | Washington County | +2,468 | +1.8% | 139,238 | WinGIS Xtreme |
The top 10 account for about 72% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | −995 | +1,859 | +206 | +1,101 |
| Lafayette County | +486 | −39 | +422 | +867 |
| Dane County | +8,721 | +2,971 | +16,798 | +28,868 |
| St. Croix County | +1,132 | +3,181 | +409 | +4,742 |
| Forest County | −164 | +549 | +17 | +390 |
In 3 of these 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Florence County: +1.4% (+66)
- Adams County: +0.9% (+187)
- Trempealeau County: +0.8% (+243)
- Lafayette County: +0.8% (+131)
- Ozaukee County: +0.7% (+681)
3 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
18 of Wisconsin's 72 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Milwaukee County: −1.6% (−15,280, now about 924,216)
- Richland County: −1.6% (−271, now about 17,036)
- Crawford County: −1.2% (−200, now about 15,910)
- Menominee County: −1.2% (−51, now about 4,199)
- Waupaca County: −0.7% (−363, now about 51,461)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin county GIS websites by viewer
- Wisconsin statewide parcel map
- Wisconsin landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All Wisconsin counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 23, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.