1st Advantage MortgageGreen County households have a median income of $82,852 and median rent of $867 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Green County
- What Green County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Green County
- Employment and commuting in Green County
- Towns and communities in Green County
- How Green County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Green County's medians
- People and households in Green County
- Reading the Green County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Checklist for Green County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Green County
Green County is home to about 37,017 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 40th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. It covers 584 square miles of land, or about 63 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Madison, WI metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Green County, Monroe leads by population with about 10,587; 7 of the 8 are incorporated.
What Green County households earn
Half of Green County households take in less than $82,852 a year and half take in more, 7% above the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
| Income band | Share in Green County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -1.2 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.7%, 3 points lower than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.407 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Green 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Green County
A typical Green County rental runs $867 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Wisconsin. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 33% of renter households here. With a median value of $250,200, a typical Green County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Measure | Green County | Wisconsin | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $867/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $250,200 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Green County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Green County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 9% locally and 6% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Sector | Green County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 4.4% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Green County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Green County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $101,098 at the median in New Glarus, $49,583 in Brodhead. Live in one of these Green County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | city | 10,587 | $69,334 | $862 | 5 mi |
| Brodhead | city | 3,197 | $49,583 | $680 | 12 mi |
| Belleville | village | 2,579 | $88,304 | $894 | 13 mi |
| New Glarus | village | 2,172 | $101,098 | $983 | 10 mi |
| Monticello | village | 1,189 | $75,833 | $842 | 5 mi |
| Albany | village | 1,063 | $72,649 | $859 | 9 mi |
| Juda | CDP | 390 | $64,135 | $1,030 | 8 mi |
| Browntown | village | 249 | $73,542 | $870 | 12 mi |
How Green County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Stephenson County at 23 miles out to Iowa County at 35. Income ranges from $64,043 in Stephenson County to $89,975 in Dane County; 1 of these neighbors top Green County's median. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green County | - | $82,852 | $867/mo | 76% |
| Stephenson County, IL | 23 mi | $64,043 | $798/mo | 71% |
| Lafayette County, WI | 27 mi | $76,462 | $830/mo | 80% |
| Rock County, WI | 27 mi | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Dane County, WI | 29 mi | $89,975 | $1,398/mo | 57% |
| Winnebago County, IL | 33 mi | $65,837 | $1,021/mo | 66% |
| Iowa County, WI | 35 mi | $82,182 | $954/mo | 77% |
Debt-to-income at Green County's medians
Green County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,904 gross per month ($82,852 / 12)
- Less median rent of $867, which is 13% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,969 total minus rent leaves $2,102
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Green County
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. 3.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Green County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.7% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Reading the Green County data as a borrower
What the Green County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Green County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Consolidating cards in Green County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Consumer lenders serving Green County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Green County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Green County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Green County a high-income county?
Its $82,852 median ranks 11th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Green County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$867 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 20% below.
Should Green County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Green County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Green County?
By population: Monroe, Brodhead, Belleville, New Glarus, Monticello. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Green County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.