1st Advantage MortgageIn Green Lake County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $68,196 a year and the typical rent is $818. 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
- Getting oriented in Green Lake County
- What it costs to live in Green Lake County
- Income in Green Lake County compared with Wisconsin
- Employment and commuting in Green Lake County
- Green Lake County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Green Lake County
- Debt-to-income at Green Lake County's medians
- People and households in Green Lake County
- What the numbers mean for Green Lake County borrowers
- Checklist for Green Lake County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Green Lake County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Green Lake County
Roughly 19,263 residents live in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, 55th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 350 square miles, that is close to 55 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Green Lake County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (6 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Berlin, with about 5,562 residents, or 29% of the county.
What it costs to live in Green Lake County
A typical Green Lake County rental runs $818 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Wisconsin. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $215,400, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1971.
| Green Lake County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $818/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $215,400 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 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).
Income in Green Lake County compared with Wisconsin
The median household income in Green Lake County is $68,196; statewide it is $77,485, so Green Lake County runs 12% below Wisconsin as a whole. In the state ranking that is 46th of 72.
| Band | Green Lake County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -3.2 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.6%. A household earning below the $68,196 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Green Lake County
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 18% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Green Lake County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.1% | +5.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +3.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -2.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Green Lake County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Green Lake County and the counties next door
Marquette County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Columbia County, is 28 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Green Lake County; Columbia County is highest at $85,351 and Marquette County lowest at $65,681.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lake County | - | $68,196 | $818/mo | 74% |
| Marquette County, WI | 22 mi | $65,681 | $800/mo | 81% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 24 mi | $74,275 | $960/mo | 71% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 26 mi | $74,925 | $965/mo | 66% |
| Waushara County, WI | 27 mi | $67,107 | $796/mo | 84% |
| Dodge County, WI | 28 mi | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
| Columbia County, WI | 28 mi | $85,351 | $978/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Green Lake County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Green Lake County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 9,809 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $62,165 at the median in Markesan, $54,205 in Princeton. Rent is cheapest in Markesan ($514) and steepest in Berlin ($832). No Green Lake County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | city | 5,562 | $59,472 | $832 | 13 mi |
| Markesan | city | 1,275 | $62,165 | $514 | 5 mi |
| Princeton | city | 1,166 | $54,205 | $755 | 9 mi |
| Green Lake | city | 1,076 | $55,970 | $721 | 4 mi |
| Kingston | village | 271 | $72,083 | $695 | 10 mi |
| Marquette | village | 232 | $58,750 | $900 | 9 mi |
| Dalton | CDP | 227 | $59,464 | $1,034 | 15 mi |
Debt-to-income at Green Lake County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Green Lake County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Green Lake County: $5,683
- 14% goes to median rent ($818)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,444 total minus rent leaves $1,626
If your rent is above $818, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Green Lake County
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.0%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Indicator | Green Lake County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.8% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Green Lake County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
What the numbers mean for Green Lake County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Green Lake County borrowers.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Checklist for Green Lake County applicants
Steps that save money for Green Lake County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Green Lake County-area credit union.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Green Lake County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Green Lake County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Green Lake County earn?
The median is $68,196; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Green Lake County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $818 against $1,087 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Green Lake County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Berlin?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Green Lake County, such as Markesan, Princeton, Green Lake.
Will a Green Lake County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.