Door County is Among State’s Growing Rural Areas

Door County ranks fifth in population growth among Wisconsin’s 46 rural counties, according to a recent report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum. 

Door County’s population has grown 9.9% from 2010 to 2022, trailing only Sawyer (12%), Vilas (11%), Bayfield (11%) and Burnett (10%) as rural counties. Door County has rebounded from a 1% population decline between 2000 and 2010.

This growth trend contributes to local economic vitality, but it also creates workforce challenges. One specific challenge in Door County is that a significant portion of the population is aging. The Wisconsin Policy Forum report is available at wispolicyforum.org/research/why-is-wisconsins-rural-population-growth-outpacing-the-midwest.