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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#31. Waushara County
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#26. Sawyer County
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#6. La Crosse County
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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
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#1. Milwaukee County