1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dunn County household earns $74,824, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Dunn County at a glance
- How much Dunn County households make
- Housing costs in Dunn County
- Work, industries and travel time in Dunn County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Dunn County
- What a median Dunn County budget can carry
- Dunn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Dunn County
- Steps before you apply in Dunn County
- Who licenses lenders for Dunn County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dunn County at a glance
Roughly 45,527 residents live in Dunn County, Wisconsin, 33rd by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 850 square miles of land, or about 54 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dunn County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 11 Census places inside Dunn County, Menomonie leads by population with about 16,539; 8 of the 11 are incorporated.
How much Dunn County households make
Dunn County households have a median income of $74,824 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 30th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Yearly household income | Dunn County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Dunn County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 10.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Dunn County
Renters in Dunn County pay a median of $985 a month, 9% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $243,200, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 1983.
| Dunn County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $985/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,200 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 11% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Dunn County
The biggest employer of Dunn County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 11% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Dunn County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | +1.5 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
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (22 to 34 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Dunn County; St. Croix County is highest at $103,046 and Barron County lowest at $65,933.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunn County | - | $74,824 | $985/mo | 67% |
| Pepin County, WI | 22 mi | $75,256 | $869/mo | 83% |
| St. Croix County, WI | 27 mi | $103,046 | $1,271/mo | 78% |
| Pierce County, WI | 30 mi | $92,109 | $1,044/mo | 75% |
| Chippewa County, WI | 31 mi | $74,680 | $963/mo | 74% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 34 mi | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| Barron County, WI | 34 mi | $65,933 | $879/mo | 77% |
Places inside Dunn County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Dunn County residents live in one of the 11. Tainter Lake has the highest median household income on the list ($105,781) and Menomonie the lowest ($56,889), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $698 in Colfax to $1,069 in Tainter Lake. No Dunn County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menomonie | city | 16,539 | $56,889 | $970 | 4 mi |
| Tainter Lake | CDP | 2,609 | $105,781 | $1,069 | 4 mi |
| Colfax | village | 1,370 | $61,762 | $698 | 9 mi |
| Elk Mound | village | 1,096 | $66,875 | $1,050 | 12 mi |
| Boyceville | village | 1,083 | $59,464 | $840 | 10 mi |
| Knapp | village | 532 | $66,250 | $980 | 9 mi |
| Wheeler | village | 316 | $83,750 | $780 | 7 mi |
| Ridgeland | village | 313 | $40,156 | $535 | 17 mi |
| Downsville | CDP | 305 | $86,875 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Downing | village | 271 | $61,875 | $775 | 13 mi |
| Rock Falls | CDP | 169 | $82,083 | $883 | 19 mi |
What a median Dunn County budget can carry
Dunn County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,235 a month: gross income for a household at the Dunn County median
- Median rent: $985, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,260 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Dunn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
30% of Dunn County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Dunn County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dunn County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Before borrowing in Dunn County
A few patterns in the Dunn County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- 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).
Steps before you apply in Dunn County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dunn County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Dunn County residents
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dunn County household make?
About $74,824 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Wisconsin median.
What do renters pay in Dunn County?
$985 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Menomonie?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Dunn County, such as Tainter Lake, Colfax, Elk Mound.
Can Dunn 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 Dunn County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Wisconsin it is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.