De Soto: Demographics & People
503 people call De Soto home, in 247 households. Population grew 1.2% from 497 (2022) to 503 (2024). Median age 59.8 years. (17.9y older than Vernon County; 21.5y older than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 95% White (non-Hispanic) and 0% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.01). 78% of households are family-led. County is losing 243 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.0 people per household (vs Wisconsin avg 2.4).
- 22% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Wisconsin 43%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Wisconsin 66).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.2% from 497 (2022) to 503 (2024) — about 2.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~509 (extrapolated at 0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 517.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,113 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 497 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 503 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 503 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Population Estimate | 517 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 59.8y is 20.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 59.8 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 8.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 503 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 45 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 60.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 245.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 153 |
| Population under 18 | 45 |
| Median age | 59.8 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 503 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.01 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 483 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 0.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 99.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.4% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.4% (vs Wisconsin 81.6%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Residents born in this state | 381 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 121 |
| Share born in this state | 75.7% |
| Share born in another state | 24.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 24.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 282 |
Households & Family Composition
247 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 78% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 185 families, 11% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 46 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 185 |
| Married couples with children | 21 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.12 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 40.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 3 |
| Family households | 194 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092) |
| Households that are families | 78.5% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%) |
| Total households | 247 households (vs Wisconsin 10,843) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 1.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 243 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 1.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 14,725 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 14,968 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -243 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 85 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 15.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 55023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 55 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Crawford |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 5.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 11.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 55023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Crawford County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 575 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 55023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Crawford County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 64.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 60.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 63.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 16,131 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 8.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 503, growing, retirement community, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 503 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Town Summary · County | Crawford County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade