Viola: Demographics & People
About 551 people live in Viola, in 234 households. Population shrank 6.9% from 592 (2022) to 551 (2024). Median age 44.4 years. (2.5y older than Vernon County; 6.1y older than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 95% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 63% of households are family-led. County health: 42% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Wisconsin avg 2.4).
- 37% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Wisconsin 43%).
- 55 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Wisconsin 66).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 6.9% from 592 (2022) to 551 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~513 (extrapolated at -3.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 465.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 17,304 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -6.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 592 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 551 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 551 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Population Estimate | 465 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.4y is 5.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.4 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 551 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 94 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 81.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 275.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 101 |
| Population under 18 | 94 |
| Median age | 44.4 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 551 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 570 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 10 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 4.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.9% |
| Black population | 1.3% (vs Wisconsin 2.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.4% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.3% (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). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 431 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 113 |
| Share born in this state | 78.2% |
| Share born in another state | 21.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3 |
| From Europe | 3 |
Households & Family Composition
234 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 63% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 152 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 122 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 152 |
| Married couples with children | 42 |
| Single-parent households | 8 |
| Average household size | 2.55 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 20.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 18 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 11 |
| Family households | 148 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092) |
| Households that are families | 63.2% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%) |
| Total households | 234 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. 8.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 15,427 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 15,474 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -47 |
| 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 | 45 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 55103 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 55 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 103 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Richland |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 9.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 17.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 55103 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Richland County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 614 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 55103 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Richland County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 64.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 60.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 66.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 17,252 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 551, shrinking, established, upper-middle, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 551 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Town Summary · County | Richland County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade