1st Advantage MortgageIn Dodge County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $75,929 a year and the typical rent is $988. 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
- Getting oriented in Dodge County
- Housing costs in Dodge County
- How much Dodge County households make
- How Dodge County residents earn a living
- Counties near Dodge County
- Dodge County towns compared
- More Dodge County figures
- What the numbers mean for Dodge County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Dodge County
- Lender oversight for Dodge County
- Four steps for Dodge County borrowers
- More guides for Dodge County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Dodge County
Dodge County is home to about 88,742 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. It covers 876 square miles of land, or about 101 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dodge County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Beaver Dam is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 16,565 people (19% of the county total).
Housing costs in Dodge County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $988 in Dodge County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 35% of Dodge County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $231,900, a typical Dodge County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Home costs | Dodge County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $988/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,900 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 11% | n/a |
How much Dodge County households make
Half of Dodge County households take in less than $75,929 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485. That places it 24th among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Dodge County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.7% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.6 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Dodge 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.
How Dodge County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 18%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Dodge County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.5% | +7.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.2% | -5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.4% | +0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dodge County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Counties near Dodge County
Washington County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Waukesha County, is 35 miles off. Income ranges from $68,196 in Green Lake County to $106,076 in Waukesha County; 4 of these neighbors top Dodge County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County | - | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
| Washington County, WI | 24 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 25 mi | $74,275 | $960/mo | 71% |
| Green Lake County, WI | 28 mi | $68,196 | $818/mo | 74% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 29 mi | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Columbia County, WI | 32 mi | $85,351 | $978/mo | 77% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 35 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
Dodge County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 21 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 61% of Dodge County residents live in one of the 21. Ashippun has the highest median household income on the list ($102,188) and Horicon the lowest ($53,465), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $764 in Randolph to $1,269 in Iron Ridge. No Dodge County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 21.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam | city | 16,565 | $66,673 | $959 | 7 mi |
| Waupun | city | 11,174 | $65,625 | $951 | 14 mi |
| Mayville | city | 5,228 | $66,834 | $835 | 9 mi |
| Horicon | city | 3,814 | $53,465 | $906 | 3 mi |
| Lomira | village | 2,675 | $70,365 | $1,137 | 17 mi |
| Juneau | city | 2,625 | $77,708 | $852 | 2 mi |
| Fox Lake | city | 1,780 | $75,000 | $1,253 | 14 mi |
| Randolph | village | 1,642 | $58,571 | $764 | 17 mi |
| Theresa | village | 1,378 | $71,528 | $852 | 14 mi |
| Kekoskee | village | 1,067 | $96,944 | $1,120 | 8 mi |
| Hustisford | village | 1,008 | $72,083 | $883 | 8 mi |
| Ashippun | CDP | 919 | $102,188 | $1,211 | 17 mi |
| Iron Ridge | village | 909 | $76,944 | $1,269 | 9 mi |
| Reeseville | village | 895 | $71,932 | $956 | 11 mi |
More Dodge County figures
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Dodge County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
What the numbers mean for Dodge County borrowers
What the Dodge County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Dodge County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Dodge County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Dodge County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dodge County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Dodge County: $6,327
- Median rent: $988, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,543 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Dodge County
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Four steps for Dodge County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Dodge County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dodge County a high-income county?
Its $75,929 median ranks 24th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Dodge County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $988 a month; 35% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Beaver Dam?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Dodge County, such as Waupun, Mayville, Horicon.
Can Dodge County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Wisconsin county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Dodge County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Wisconsin it is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.