1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Clark County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,400. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Clark County at a glance
- What Clark County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Clark County
- How Clark County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Clark County
- A Clark County household budget, worked through
- Clark County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Clark County
- Who licenses lenders for Clark County residents
- A Clark County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clark County at a glance
Roughly 34,739 residents live in Clark County, Wisconsin, 41st by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,210 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Clark County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (12 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Neillsville, with about 2,230 residents, or 6% of the county.
What Clark County households earn
Clark County households have a median income of $67,400 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Yearly household income | Clark County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.6% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.8% | -3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -3.6 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.1% of Clark County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. None of these numbers decides a Clark County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Clark County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $823 in Clark County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 30% of renter households here. With a median value of $172,800, a typical Clark County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 79% of Clark County households own their home and 21% rent. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Clark County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $823/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $172,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Clark County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Clark County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Clark County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Clark County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 69% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 9.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Clark County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.9% | +5.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.8% | -3.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.2% | +9.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 30 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $67,989 in Wood County to $77,884 in Marathon County; all six of these neighbors top Clark County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | - | $67,400 | $823/mo | 79% |
| Jackson County, WI | 30 mi | $68,110 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Taylor County, WI | 33 mi | $69,350 | $823/mo | 80% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 33 mi | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| Wood County, WI | 34 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Chippewa County, WI | 40 mi | $74,680 | $963/mo | 74% |
| Marathon County, WI | 43 mi | $77,884 | $999/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Clark County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Clark County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 14,304 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $68,750 at the median in Withee, $50,114 in Colby. No Clark County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neillsville | city | 2,230 | $60,179 | $729 | 12 mi |
| Abbotsford | city | 2,024 | $68,580 | $888 | 20 mi |
| Colby | city | 1,907 | $50,114 | $854 | 19 mi |
| Thorp | city | 1,590 | $53,424 | $789 | 18 mi |
| Loyal | city | 1,363 | $65,284 | $857 | 6 mi |
| Greenwood | city | 1,100 | $65,112 | $694 | 2 mi |
| Owen | city | 920 | $61,250 | $685 | 15 mi |
| Dorchester | village | 879 | $60,536 | $837 | 23 mi |
| Withee | village | 520 | $68,750 | $919 | 15 mi |
| Curtiss | village | 442 | $68,523 | $783 | 17 mi |
| Unity | village | 378 | $56,827 | $850 | 16 mi |
| Granton | village | 345 | $58,194 | $740 | 13 mi |
| Chili | CDP | 306 | $56,333 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Humbird | CDP | 300 | $49,625 | $1,175 | 20 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Clark County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Clark County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,617 gross per month ($67,400 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $823 uses 15%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,199 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Clark County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 22.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Clark County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Clark County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Clark County
What the Clark County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 23% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Consolidating cards in Clark County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Who licenses lenders for Clark County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Clark County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Clark County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Clark County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clark County household make?
About $67,400 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Wisconsin median.
How does Clark County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$823 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 24% below.
I own my home in Clark County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Clark County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Neillsville, Abbotsford, Colby, Thorp, Loyal.
Are Clark County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.