1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Forest County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,071. 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
- Who lives in Forest County
- How Forest County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Forest County
- Forest County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Forest County
- Regional comparison for Forest County
- Budget math at the Forest County median
- Who lives in Forest County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Forest County
- A Forest County borrower's checklist
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Forest County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Forest County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Forest County's population at 9,369; only 67 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,014 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Forest County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (1 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Crandon, with about 1,365 residents, or 15% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Forest County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How Forest County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Forest County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Public administration stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.9% in Forest County. About 79% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Forest County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% | -5.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.8% | +4.4 pts |
| Public administration | 9.8% | +6.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Forest County
Forest County households have a median income of $61,071 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 66th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Yearly household income | Forest County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Forest County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.2% of Forest County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.430 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Forest County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Forest County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $594 in Forest County versus $1,087 statewide. 32% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $185,000, a typical Forest County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Forest County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1980.
| Forest County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $594/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,000 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 54% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Forest County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Forest County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Forest County residents live in one of the 6. Laona has the highest median household income on the list ($53,261) and Mole Lake the lowest ($38,889), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $400 in Mole Lake to $654 in Crandon. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crandon | city | 1,365 | $42,784 | $654 | 9 mi |
| Laona | CDP | 631 | $53,261 | $556 | 9 mi |
| Mole Lake | CDP | 533 | $38,889 | $400 | 16 mi |
| Wabeno | CDP | 269 | $36,250 | $579 | 17 mi |
| Argonne | CDP | 96 | $72,000 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Newald | CDP | 82 | $34,375 | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Forest County
Distances run center to center, from Florence County at 23 miles out to Vilas County at 44. Income ranges from $55,878 in Langlade County to $69,371 in Oneida County; 4 of these neighbors top Forest County's median. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Forest County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County | - | $61,071 | $594/mo | 82% |
| Florence County, WI | 23 mi | $61,086 | $750/mo | 91% |
| Langlade County, WI | 32 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
| Iron County, MI | 37 mi | $55,940 | $716/mo | 84% |
| Oneida County, WI | 37 mi | $69,371 | $885/mo | 82% |
| Marinette County, WI | 44 mi | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Vilas County, WI | 44 mi | $68,431 | $847/mo | 84% |
Budget math at the Forest County median
Here is the Forest County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Forest County: $5,089
- Less median rent of $594, which is 12% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,238 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Forest County, in numbers
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.7%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Indicator | Forest County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Before borrowing in Forest County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Forest County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Forest County's median age is 49.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Consolidating cards in Forest County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
A Forest County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Forest County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Wisconsin rules that apply in Forest County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Forest County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Forest County earn?
The median is $61,071; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Forest County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $594 against $1,087 statewide, and 32% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Forest County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Forest County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Forest County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Crandon, Laona, Mole Lake, Wabeno, Argonne.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Forest County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.