1st Advantage MortgageIn Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $74,275 a year and the typical rent is $960. 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
- A quick profile of Fond du Lac County
- How much Fond du Lac County households make
- Fond du Lac County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Jobs and commutes in Fond du Lac County
- Fond du Lac County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Fond du Lac County
- What a median Fond du Lac County budget can carry
- People and households in Fond du Lac County
- Before borrowing in Fond du Lac County
- A Fond du Lac County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Fond du Lac County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County is home to about 104,137 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 16th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. Land area is 720 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 145 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Fond du Lac, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Fond du Lac is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 44,494 people (43% of the county total).
How much Fond du Lac County households make
The median household income in Fond du Lac County is $74,275; statewide it is $77,485, so Fond du Lac County runs 4% below Wisconsin as a whole.
| Households earning | Fond du Lac County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -2.9 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.2%, 1 point lower than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.406 here. For a borrower in Fond du Lac 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.
Fond du Lac County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $960 in Fond du Lac County versus $1,087 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $222,800, a typical Fond du Lac County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%. The median home was built in 1971, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Fond du Lac County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $960/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% | 3.1% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Fond du Lac County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Fond du Lac County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Fond du Lac County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.8% | +6.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.5% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -3.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Fond du Lac County towns compared
15 Census places fall mainly inside Fond du Lac County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 67,845 residents, leaving about 35% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $137,604 at the median in St. Peter, $54,763 in Ripon. Rent is cheapest in Mount Calvary ($725) and steepest in Eden ($1,158). Live in one of these Fond du Lac County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fond du Lac | city | 44,494 | $62,260 | $913 | 3 mi |
| Ripon | city | 7,772 | $54,763 | $775 | 18 mi |
| North Fond du Lac | village | 5,392 | $62,832 | $1,124 | 4 mi |
| Campbellsport | village | 1,973 | $80,040 | $909 | 15 mi |
| St. Peter | CDP | 1,413 | $137,604 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Oakfield | village | 1,182 | $91,172 | $837 | 6 mi |
| Brandon | village | 913 | $87,813 | $775 | 14 mi |
| Rosendale | village | 853 | $95,893 | $1,000 | 10 mi |
| Taycheedah | CDP | 801 | $111,747 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Van Dyne | CDP | 752 | $130,206 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Eden | village | 732 | $69,167 | $1,158 | 8 mi |
| Mount Calvary | village | 642 | $82,212 | $725 | 13 mi |
| St. Cloud | village | 454 | $100,357 | $757 | 17 mi |
| Fairwater | village | 350 | $71,250 | $988 | 19 mi |
Regional comparison for Fond du Lac County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ozaukee County leads the group on income ($96,996), Green Lake County trails ($68,196), and Fond du Lac County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fond du Lac County | - | $74,275 | $960/mo | 71% |
| Green Lake County, WI | 24 mi | $68,196 | $818/mo | 74% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 24 mi | $74,925 | $965/mo | 66% |
| Dodge County, WI | 25 mi | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
| Calumet County, WI | 26 mi | $88,810 | $1,073/mo | 80% |
| Washington County, WI | 28 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
| Ozaukee County, WI | 37 mi | $96,996 | $1,154/mo | 73% |
What a median Fond du Lac County budget can carry
Fond du Lac County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,190 gross per month ($74,275 / 12)
- Less median rent of $960, which is 16% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,476 total minus rent leaves $1,516
If your rent is above $960, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Fond du Lac County
22% of Fond du Lac County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Fond du Lac County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.3% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Fond du Lac County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Before borrowing in Fond du Lac County
What the Fond du Lac County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Fond du Lac County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Fond du Lac County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Fond du Lac County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Fond du Lac County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Fond du Lac County?
$74,275 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 34th of 72 in the state.
How does Fond du Lac County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$960 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 12% below.
I live in a small Fond du Lac County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fond du Lac, Ripon, North Fond du Lac, Campbellsport, St. Peter and 10 more.
Is the fit check different in Fond du Lac County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Fond du Lac 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.