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Washburn County, WI
7 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Population
16,854
Land area
797sq mi
People per sq mi
21
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Washburn County
Washburn County at a glance
- Washburn County is 81% less dense than Wisconsin as a whole.
- The median household income is $63,441, 18% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $226,100 (15% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $795 a month.
- Its largest cities are Spooner (2,278), Shell Lake (1,459) and Minong (678).
Local data for Washburn County, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Washburn County, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$63,441
Poverty rate
11.5%
Median home value
$226,100
Prices +6.6% in a year
Median rent
$795/mo
Homeownership
82.2%
Bachelor's or higher
25.5%
Median age
52.7
Average commute
22.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (5,523), Norwegian Americans (1,927), Irish Americans (1,801).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,789
5,459 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,638
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$163M
FY 2026, $9,791 per person
PPP loans
$28.02M
783 loans, 4,480 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$50.92K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Washburn County, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.9%
- Carpooled9.5%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home12.6%
Average one-way commute: 22.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Washburn County, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
366
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
41
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / 1°F
31.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Washburn County, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.6%
U.S. 33.3% +2.3 pts
Diabetes
14.4%
U.S. 12.1% +2.3 pts
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.4%
U.S. 11.1% -3.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Washburn County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Washburn County, WI?
- Spooner is the largest city or town in Washburn County, with about 2,278 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Washburn County?
- Washburn County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 54801, 54817, 54859, 54870, 54871.
- What is the population of Washburn County, WI?
- About 16,854 people live in Washburn County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Washburn County?
- Washburn County borders Barron County, Douglas County, Sawyer County, Burnett County, Bayfield County, Rusk County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023