1st Advantage MortgageBurnett County households have a median income of $62,819 and median rent of $771 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Burnett County
- The Burnett County job picture
- Burnett County at the extremes
- The Burnett County housing market in figures
- Household income in Burnett County
- Burnett County next to its neighbors
- Burnett County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Burnett County
- Reading the Burnett County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Burnett County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Burnett County
- A Burnett County borrower's checklist
- Beyond Burnett County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Burnett County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Burnett County's population at 16,916; only 58 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 20.6 residents per square mile across 822 square miles of land. Burnett County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Grantsburg, with about 1,340 residents, or 8% of the county.
The Burnett County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Burnett County residents work in education and health care and 17% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 9% locally and 6% for Wisconsin. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Burnett County. 39% of Burnett County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 23% need 45 or more. No car: 4.4% of Burnett County households.
| Sector | Burnett County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.1% | -3.3 pts |
Self-employed in Burnett County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Burnett County at the extremes
The 3 Burnett County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Wisconsin, and what each means for a borrower:
- On median age, Burnett County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 56.0, 2nd highest of 72. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- Burnett County ranks 3rd highest of 72 Wisconsin counties for the housing vacancy rate: 53%, against 11% statewide. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
- Few Wisconsin counties match Burnett County on the ACS unemployment rate: 4.9% here, 3.2% for the state, ranking 4th highest of 72. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
The Burnett County housing market in figures
Renters in Burnett County pay a median of $771 a month, 29% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Burnett County homes are worth $231,300 at the median, a 3.7-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 86% of homes.
| Cost | Burnett County | Wisconsin figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $1,087/mo | 29% lower |
| Median home value | $231,300 | $266,500 | 13% lower |
| Owners | 86% | 68% | +18.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | -0.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | +7.9 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 3.1% | +5.9 pts |
With 86% of Burnett County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Household income in Burnett County
Half of Burnett County households take in less than $62,819 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485. Only 61 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Burnett County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.2% | +8.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -2.8 pts |
Six-figure households (29%) outnumber those under $35,000 (28%) in Burnett County. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. Burnett County scores 0.466 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Burnett County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Burnett County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 25 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Burnett County's $62,819 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $63,441 (Washburn County) to $99,400 (Chisago County). The list crosses into Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnett County | - | $62,819 | $771/mo | 86% |
| Pine County, MN | 25 mi | $71,146 | $877/mo | 82% |
| Washburn County, WI | 28 mi | $63,441 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Polk County, WI | 28 mi | $77,219 | $957/mo | 81% |
| Chisago County, MN | 36 mi | $99,400 | $1,186/mo | 86% |
| Barron County, WI | 39 mi | $65,933 | $879/mo | 77% |
| Kanabec County, MN | 45 mi | $71,460 | $962/mo | 85% |
Burnett County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 16% of Burnett County residents live in one of the 4. Siren has the highest median household income on the list ($49,688) and Webster the lowest ($35,089), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $527 in Webster to $756 in Grantsburg. From Grantsburg to the smallest crossroads, Burnett County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantsburg | village | 1,340 | $35,114 | $756 | 16 mi |
| Siren | village | 713 | $49,688 | $731 | 6 mi |
| Webster | village | 575 | $35,089 | $527 | 1 mi |
| Danbury | CDP | 73 | $40,625 | $738 | 10 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Burnett County
DTI math using Burnett County medians ($62,819 income, $771 rent):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,235 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $771 uses 15%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,094 total minus rent leaves $1,323
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Burnett County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Reading the Burnett County data as a borrower
Based on the Burnett County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Car trouble. For Burnett County drivers (23% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Age 56.0 at the median. Many Burnett County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Burnett County, in numbers
22% of Burnett County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Residents | Burnett County | Difference from Wisconsin | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.0 | +15.8 yrs | +14.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | -11.0 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 0.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | +0.7 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | -2.0 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Work from home | 11.8% | -1.3 pts | +3.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | +2.2 pts | -0.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | +1.6 pts | +0.5 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Lender oversight for Burnett County
Consumer lenders serving Burnett 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.
A Burnett County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Burnett County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Burnett County-area credit union.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Beyond Burnett County
Next step up from Burnett County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Burnett County rank on income in Wisconsin?
62nd of 72, with a median of $62,819. The state median is $77,485.
What is the median rent in Burnett County, WI?
$771 a month, utilities included, or $9,252 a year.
Does this page cover Grantsburg?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Burnett County, such as Siren, Webster, Danbury.
Will a Burnett County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Burnett County residents?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Wisconsin; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.