1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Door County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $74,795. 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
- Door County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Door County
- Jobs and commutes in Door County
- Housing costs in Door County
- Door County towns compared
- Door County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Door County
- Before borrowing in Door County
- Door County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for Door County residents
- Checklist for Door County applicants
- More guides for Door County
- Frequently asked questions
Door County at a glance
Door County is home to about 30,445 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. Land area is 482 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 63 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Door County is not part of any metropolitan area. Sturgeon Bay is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 9,806 people (32% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Door County
At $74,795, the typical Door County household income is 14% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 30 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Band | Door County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.4% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.2% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -0.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Door County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 7.7% of Door County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Door County median.
Jobs and commutes in Door County
The biggest employer of Door County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (13% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.4% in Door County. About 75% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 2.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Door County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.6% | -6.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.0% | -2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Door County
Renters in Door County pay a median of $1,086 a month, in line with Wisconsin's $1,087. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $342,600, a typical Door County house costs 4.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Housing | Door County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,086/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $342,600 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 3.1% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Door County towns compared
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Door County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 12,846 people, so roughly 58% of residents live outside any named place. Forestville has the highest median household income on the list ($83,804) and Sturgeon Bay the lowest ($59,926), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Forestville ($740) and steepest in Sister Bay ($1,168). No Door County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Bay | city | 9,806 | $59,926 | $1,097 | 24 mi |
| Sister Bay | village | 1,044 | $71,169 | $1,168 | 8 mi |
| Forestville | village | 558 | $83,804 | $740 | 35 mi |
| Ephraim | village | 412 | $100,313 | $956 | 8 mi |
| Baileys Harbor | CDP | 386 | $80,556 | $1,340 | 5 mi |
| Egg Harbor | village | 343 | $89,375 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ellison Bay | CDP | 186 | $66,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Little Sturgeon | CDP | 111 | $70,625 | n/a | 31 mi |
Door County and the counties next door
Menominee County is closest, 38 miles from center to center; the sixth, Benzie County, is 51 miles off. Leelanau County leads the group on income ($99,422), Menominee County trails ($56,435), and Door County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Door County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door County | - | $74,795 | $1,086/mo | 78% |
| Menominee County, MI | 38 mi | $56,435 | $692/mo | 81% |
| Kewaunee County, WI | 39 mi | $82,725 | $847/mo | 86% |
| Leelanau County, MI | 49 mi | $99,422 | $1,228/mo | 92% |
| Marinette County, WI | 49 mi | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Delta County, MI | 50 mi | $57,809 | $692/mo | 82% |
| Benzie County, MI | 51 mi | $74,834 | $1,026/mo | 88% |
Room for a loan payment in Door County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Door County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,233 a month: gross income for a household at the Door County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,086)
- $1,158: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,594: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Door County
What the Door County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 54.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Consolidating cards in Door County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Door County residents: age, schooling, coverage
37% of Door County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 3% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Door County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.4% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.7% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.1% |
Who licenses lenders for Door County residents
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Checklist for Door County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Door County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wisconsin borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Door County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Door County household make?
About $74,795 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Wisconsin median.
What do renters pay in Door County?
$1,086 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Door County?
By population: Sturgeon Bay, Sister Bay, Forestville, Ephraim, Baileys Harbor. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Can Door 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Door 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.