Counties in Wisconsin where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
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Counties in Wisconsin where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Wisconsin where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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#50. Rusk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 6,376
- Median household income: $47,532
- Median monthly housing cost: $676

#49. Portage County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 28,675
- Median household income: $58,853
- Median monthly housing cost: $838

#48. Door County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 13,191
- Median household income: $61,560
- Median monthly housing cost: $878

#47. Taylor County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,614
- Median household income: $53,020
- Median monthly housing cost: $758

#46. Green County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 15,047
- Median household income: $64,502
- Median monthly housing cost: $923

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#45. Buffalo County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 5,772
- Median household income: $57,829
- Median monthly housing cost: $828

#44. Outagamie County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.5%
- Total occupied households: 73,648
- Median household income: $65,572
- Median monthly housing cost: $939

#43. Richland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 7,538
- Median household income: $51,947
- Median monthly housing cost: $746

#42. Pepin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 3,070
- Median household income: $54,583
- Median monthly housing cost: $786

#41. Brown County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 105,271
- Median household income: $62,340
- Median monthly housing cost: $898

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#40. Jackson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.5%
- Total occupied households: 8,199
- Median household income: $53,650
- Median monthly housing cost: $777

#39. Monroe County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.2%
- Total occupied households: 17,915
- Median household income: $59,587
- Median monthly housing cost: $863

#38. Trempealeau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 12,005
- Median household income: $58,548
- Median monthly housing cost: $848

#37. Green Lake County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 7,979
- Median household income: $55,075
- Median monthly housing cost: $799

#36. Iron County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.0%
- Total occupied households: 2,898
- Median household income: $43,798
- Median monthly housing cost: $636

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#35. Chippewa County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 25,601
- Median household income: $59,742
- Median monthly housing cost: $870

#34. Vernon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.0%
- Total occupied households: 12,071
- Median household income: $52,459
- Median monthly housing cost: $766

#33. Iowa County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
- Total occupied households: 9,850
- Median household income: $64,124
- Median monthly housing cost: $941

#32. Burnett County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.1%
- Total occupied households: 7,305
- Median household income: $52,672
- Median monthly housing cost: $773

#31. Waushara County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.4%
- Total occupied households: 9,934
- Median household income: $52,810
- Median monthly housing cost: $777

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#30. Price County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 6,688
- Median household income: $47,956
- Median monthly housing cost: $706

#29. Washington County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.9%
- Total occupied households: 54,302
- Median household income: $77,663
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,153

#28. Ozaukee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
- Total occupied households: 35,807
- Median household income: $85,215
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,268

#27. Marquette County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.4%
- Total occupied households: 6,648
- Median household income: $52,288
- Median monthly housing cost: $779

#26. Sawyer County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 7,796
- Median household income: $47,714
- Median monthly housing cost: $711

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#25. Waukesha County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 158,808
- Median household income: $87,277
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,301

#24. Polk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
- Total occupied households: 18,450
- Median household income: $59,994
- Median monthly housing cost: $902

#23. Winnebago County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 70,594
- Median household income: $58,543
- Median monthly housing cost: $881

#22. Columbia County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 24,112
- Median household income: $68,005
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,025

#21. Sauk County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.6%
- Total occupied households: 26,222
- Median household income: $59,943
- Median monthly housing cost: $908

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#20. Washburn County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 7,236
- Median household income: $50,280
- Median monthly housing cost: $765

#19. Barron County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 18,907
- Median household income: $52,703
- Median monthly housing cost: $802

#18. St. Croix County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 34,182
- Median household income: $84,756
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,291

#17. Pierce County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
- Total occupied households: 15,593
- Median household income: $72,323
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,104

#16. Dodge County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 34,980
- Median household income: $60,652
- Median monthly housing cost: $926

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#15. Juneau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
- Total occupied households: 10,752
- Median household income: $53,490
- Median monthly housing cost: $818

#14. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 32,965
- Median household income: $66,291
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,016

#13. Vilas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.2%
- Total occupied households: 10,921
- Median household income: $47,072
- Median monthly housing cost: $722

#12. Douglas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 19,011
- Median household income: $53,986
- Median monthly housing cost: $834

#11. Dunn County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
- Total occupied households: 16,859
- Median household income: $58,783
- Median monthly housing cost: $909

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#10. Eau Claire County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.2%
- Total occupied households: 40,981
- Median household income: $59,476
- Median monthly housing cost: $927

#9. Ashland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
- Total occupied households: 6,565
- Median household income: $42,510
- Median monthly housing cost: $664

#8. Rock County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 64,739
- Median household income: $57,875
- Median monthly housing cost: $915

#7. Adams County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.3%
- Total occupied households: 9,062
- Median household income: $46,369
- Median monthly housing cost: $734

#6. La Crosse County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 47,518
- Median household income: $57,882
- Median monthly housing cost: $918

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#5. Racine County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.4%
- Total occupied households: 76,974
- Median household income: $61,336
- Median monthly housing cost: $991

#4. Walworth County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.1%
- Total occupied households: 40,874
- Median household income: $63,776
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,038

#3. Kenosha County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
- Total occupied households: 64,111
- Median household income: $63,733
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,063

#2. Dane County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.7%
- Total occupied households: 222,929
- Median household income: $73,893
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,258

#1. Milwaukee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 38.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 35.5%
- Total occupied households: 382,175
- Median household income: $50,606
- Median monthly housing cost: $965

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