Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Waukesha County, WI

Welcome to Waukesha County.

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Waukesha County is the third most populous in the state of Wisconsin, representing 7% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 25%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $37.1 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Waukesha County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Waukesha County comprises Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Waukesha.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Dodge County, Jefferson County, Milwaukee County, Ozaukee County, Racine County, Walworth County, and Washington County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
31.57%65.33%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
31.96%67.25%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
36.64%62.32%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
32.31%66.76%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
33.13%59.62%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
38.77%59.57%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%25%
Government
Enterprises
5%14%
Private Industries95%25%
Agriculture<1%0%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities<1%3%
Construction6%33%
Manufacturing17%11%
– Durable12%11%
– Nondurable5%11%
Trade16%37%
– Wholesale10%46%
– Retail6%23%
Transportation2%0%
Information5%65%
Finance & Insurance9%6%
Real Estate11%0%
Professional &
Business Services
14%36%
Educational Services1%1%
Healthcare &
Social Services
7%24%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%36%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%38%
Other Services22%24%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers4587
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
6687
📺 Electronics & Appliance2985
🛒 Grocery Stores8689
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores3284
⚕️ Health & Personal Care11591
⛽ Gasoline Stations11993
👕 Clothing Stores9187
👠 Shoe Stores1975
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry2982
🏸 Sporting Goods4891
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers660
🏬 Department Stores4889
💐 Florists1382
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops1877
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 2080
🍺 Bars & Taverns8394
🍽️ Full-service restaurants30493
🍔 Limited-service restaurants30092
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers20690
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation4186
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%118%$397,700 N/A
Top 20%44%$242,800 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%23%$128,300 $155,200
Middle 20%17%$91,100 $107,700
Second lowest 20%11%$58,900 $74,100
Bottom 20%5%$25,900 $45,100
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries76%$109,100
Self-Employment9%$46,100
Investment Income125%$19,400
Social Security33%$25,500
Supplemental Security3%$14,900
Public Assistance1%Below $10,000
Retirement28%$27,600
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
<1%1%2%5%
$25K
– $49K
1%2%3%7%
$50K
– $99K
1%7%9%10%
$100K
– $199K
<1%12%15%6%
$200K
& more
<1%5%9%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$61,700 $43,600
African-American$46,300 $22,600
Hispanic$44,400 $34,300
Asian$66,200 $34,500
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$45,200 $27,500
Highschool & GED$54,000 $37,600
Some College to
Associate’s
$63,200 $42,200
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$90,100 $57,500
Graduate Degree$103,700 $77,600
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$88,600 $62,200
STEM2$87,200 $72,400
Gray-Collar3$67,200 $68,100
Pink-Collar4Below $10,000$22,100
Sales5$65,300 $33,600
Blue-Collar6$50,900 $37,300
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves++$
Drought+
Earthquake+$
Hail++$
Heat Waves+$
Hurricane+
Ice Storm+$
Landslide+
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding++$
Strong Wind+$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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