1st Advantage MortgageIn Florence County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $61,086 a year and the typical rent is $750. 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
- Florence County by the numbers
- How Florence County residents earn a living
- Household income in Florence County
- Housing costs in Florence County
- Towns and communities in Florence County
- Counties near Florence County
- A Florence County household budget, worked through
- Florence County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Florence County
- A Florence County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Florence County by the numbers
Florence County is home to about 4,646 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 71st most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. It covers 488 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Florence County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (0 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Florence, with about 488 residents, or 11% of the county. Because Florence County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How Florence County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 17% of employed Florence County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward construction (11% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Florence County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Florence County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.5% | -5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.8% | +4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -3.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.5% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Florence County
Florence County households have a median income of $61,086 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 65th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Yearly household income | Florence County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -6.3 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. 7.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). None of these numbers decides a Florence County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Florence County
Renters in Florence County pay a median of $750 a month, 31% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. With a median value of $173,200, a typical Florence County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 91% of homes.
| Housing | Florence County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $750/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,200 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 91% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 53% | 11% | 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).
Towns and communities in Florence County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Florence County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 528 residents, leaving about 89% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | CDP | 488 | $40,368 | $545 | 9 mi |
| Long Lake | CDP | 40 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
Counties near Florence County
Distances run center to center, from Iron County at 22 miles out to Langlade County at 53. Dickinson County leads the group on income ($65,156), Langlade County trails ($55,878), and Florence County out-earns 4 of the six. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Florence County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence County | - | $61,086 | $750/mo | 91% |
| Iron County, MI | 22 mi | $55,940 | $716/mo | 84% |
| Forest County, WI | 23 mi | $61,071 | $594/mo | 82% |
| Dickinson County, MI | 28 mi | $65,156 | $797/mo | 82% |
| Marinette County, WI | 41 mi | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Menominee County, MI | 49 mi | $56,435 | $692/mo | 81% |
| Langlade County, WI | 53 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
A Florence County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Florence County's medians:
- $61,086 a year is $5,090 of gross monthly income
- 15% goes to median rent ($750)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,032 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,291 total minus rent leaves $1,541
If your rent is above $750, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Florence County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Florence County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Florence County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Florence County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Florence County borrowers.
- Retirees. At a median age of 55.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Florence County borrower sees (free reports).
A Florence County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Florence County residents:
- Price the Florence County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Florence County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Florence County?
$61,086 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 65th of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Florence County?
$750 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Florence County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 91% of Florence County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Florence?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Florence County, such as Long Lake.
Does living in Florence County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Florence County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.