Demographics & People

Census counts 566,973 people in Milwaukee, in 232,520 households. Population shrank 0.5% from 569,756 (2022) to 566,973 (2024). Median age 32.4 years. (3.1y younger than Milwaukee County; 7.7y younger than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 38% Black and 32% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.68). 51% of households are family-led. County is losing 17,549 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 17% smoke.

2.4 people per household (vs Wisconsin avg 2.4).
49% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Wisconsin 43%).
60 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Wisconsin 66).

Population & Trend

Population shrank 0.5% from 569,756 (2022) to 566,973 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~564,198 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 560,503.

Census data vintage	2024
County Population	939,489 people
Annual growth rate · Population change	-0.5%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)	569,756
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)	566,973
Annual growth rate · Trend category	stable
Population	566,973 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785)
Population Estimate	560,503

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year · U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year DP05 · U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage Population Estimates · Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 32.4y is 6.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age	32.4 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y)
Age Summary · Children Pct	25.4%
Age Summary · Character	young professional
Age Summary · Total Pop	566,973
Age Summary · Under 18	143,741
Age Summary · 18 To 34	162,847
Age Summary · 35 To 64	192,495
Age Summary · 65 Plus	67,890
Median age	32.4 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 566,973 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.68 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.

Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)	67.7%
Diversity Index · Diversity label	highly diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted	4
Diversity Index · Largest group share	38.4%
Asian population	5.0% (vs Wisconsin 3.1%)
Black population	37.9% (vs Wisconsin 2.7%)
Hispanic or Latino population	20.9% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%)
White (non-Hispanic) population	31.7% (vs Wisconsin 81.6%)

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year DP05 · 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 (1)

(unnamed)

Black

Sources: Census ACS 2022 B04006+B03001+B02001

Households & Family Composition

232,520 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 51% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 118,965 families, 19% are married couples with children.

Family households	118,290 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092)
Households that are families	50.9% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%)
Total households	232,520 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. 14.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 17,549 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Migration · People moving in (annual)	770,822
Migration · People moving out (annual)	788,371
Migration · Net migration (in − out)	-17,549

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12