1st Advantage MortgageBayfield County households have a median income of $71,151 and median rent of $812 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- Bayfield County at a glance
- Income in Bayfield County compared with Wisconsin
- Jobs and commutes in Bayfield County
- What it costs to live in Bayfield County
- The communities that make up Bayfield County
- The counties around Bayfield County
- What a median Bayfield County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Bayfield County
- Bayfield County households compared
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Bayfield County
- Checklist for Bayfield County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bayfield County at a glance
With an estimated 16,575 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bayfield County ranks 61st of 72 in Wisconsin for population. It covers 1,478 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bayfield County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (3 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Washburn, with about 1,884 residents, or 11% of the county.
Income in Bayfield County compared with Wisconsin
Half of Bayfield County households take in less than $71,151 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
| Households earning | Bayfield County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.0% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -3.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Bayfield County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. 9.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.426 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Bayfield County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Bayfield County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 13% locally and 7% for Wisconsin. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Bayfield County. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Bayfield County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.1% | +5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -8.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Bayfield County
A typical Bayfield County rental runs $812 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Wisconsin. By the Census definition, 41% of Bayfield County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,800, about 3.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 84%. The median year built is 1982.
| Bayfield County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $812/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bayfield County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Bayfield County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Bayfield County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $70,982 at the median in Bayfield, $50,536 in Iron River. Rent is cheapest in Iron River ($696) and steepest in Bayfield ($1,142). Live in one of these Bayfield County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn | city | 1,884 | $62,128 | $798 | 13 mi |
| Iron River | CDP | 826 | $50,536 | $696 | 11 mi |
| Bayfield | city | 565 | $70,982 | $1,142 | 21 mi |
| Cable | CDP | 207 | $33,333 | $638 | 30 mi |
| Port Wing | CDP | 148 | $52,500 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Drummond | CDP | 141 | $68,958 | $1,063 | 20 mi |
| Grand View | CDP | 138 | $68,750 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Cornucopia | CDP | 108 | $104,375 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Mason | village | 93 | $71,667 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Herbster | CDP | 83 | $50,833 | n/a | 15 mi |
The counties around Bayfield County
Distances run center to center, from Ashland County at 24 miles out to Lake County at 62. Lake County leads the group on income ($75,541), Iron County trails ($60,625), and Bayfield County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayfield County | - | $71,151 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Ashland County, WI | 24 mi | $62,462 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Douglas County, WI | 36 mi | $75,099 | $909/mo | 72% |
| Iron County, WI | 48 mi | $60,625 | $662/mo | 89% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 53 mi | $60,801 | $712/mo | 77% |
| Washburn County, WI | 59 mi | $63,441 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Lake County, MN | 62 mi | $75,541 | $1,093/mo | 83% |
What a median Bayfield County budget can carry
Bayfield County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,929 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($812)
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,738 a month
If your rent is above $812, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Bayfield County
What the Bayfield County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 54.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Bayfield County households compared
Degree holders: 35% of adults over 25. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Bayfield County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Wisconsin rules that apply in Bayfield County
Consumer lenders serving Bayfield County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Checklist for Bayfield County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bayfield County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bayfield County household make?
About $71,151 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Wisconsin median.
How does Bayfield County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$812 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 25% below.
I own my home in Bayfield County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 84% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Bayfield County?
By population: Washburn, Iron River, Bayfield, Cable, Port Wing. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Does living in Bayfield County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Bayfield County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.