Whitewater: Demographics & People
About 15,807 people live in Whitewater, in 5,229 households. Population grew 0.7% from 15,705 (2022) to 15,807 (2024). Median age 22.1 years. (19.3y younger than Walworth County; 16.2y younger than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 11% of the population. Population is 80% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.28). 40% of households are family-led. County is gaining 371 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 3.0 people per household (vs Wisconsin avg 2.4).
- 60% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Wisconsin 43%).
- 27 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Wisconsin 66).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.7% from 15,705 (2022) to 15,807 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~15,909 (extrapolated at 0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 16,047.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 84,900 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 15,705 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 15,807 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 15,807 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Population Estimate | 16,047 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 22.1y is 16.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 11% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 22.1 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 11.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 15,807 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,765 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 9,431.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,019.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,592 |
| Population under 18 | 1,765 |
| Median age | 22.1 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 15,807 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.28 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 13,378 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 684 |
| Asian residents | 360 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,419 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 27.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 84.5% |
| Asian population | 3.1% (at Wisconsin median) |
| Black population | 3.1% (vs Wisconsin 2.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 10.3% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 80.1% (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). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 9% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 9,707 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,572 |
| Share born in this state | 61.4% |
| Share born in another state | 38.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 28.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 9.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,179 |
| From Europe | 330 |
| From Africa | 306 |
Households & Family Composition
5,229 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 40% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,870 families, 34% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,083 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,870 |
| Married couples with children | 637 |
| Single-parent households | 25 |
| Average household size | 2.28 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 5.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 57 |
| Family households | 2,090 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092) |
| Households that are families | 40.0% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%) |
| Total households | 5,229 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. 35.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 371 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 35.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 81,474 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 81,103 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 371 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| 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 | 758 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.9% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 3,947 residents live in group quarters (25.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3,947 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 55055 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 55 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 055 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jefferson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 7.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 55055 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Jefferson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,497 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 55055 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Jefferson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 63.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 59.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 61.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 84,769 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 11.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 15,807, stable, young community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 15,807 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Town Summary · County | Jefferson County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade