1st Advantage MortgageIn Iron County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $60,625 a year and the typical rent is $662. 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
- Iron County by the numbers
- How much Iron County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Iron County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Iron County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Iron County
- The counties around Iron County
- Debt-to-income at Iron County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Iron County
- Iron County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Lender oversight for Iron County
- Checklist for Iron County applicants
- More guides for Iron County
- Frequently asked questions
Iron County by the numbers
Roughly 6,210 residents live in Iron County, Wisconsin, 70th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 758 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Iron 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 (2 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Hurley, with about 1,354 residents, or 22% of the county. With so few households sampled, Iron County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Iron County households make
Iron County households have a median income of $60,625 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 68th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Income band | Share in Iron County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -6.2 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 10.5% of Iron County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.419 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Iron County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Iron County
The biggest employer of Iron County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 10% locally and 6% for Wisconsin. The survey's unemployment rate for Iron County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Iron County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | -4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.3% | +2.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Rent, home values and ownership in Iron County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $662 in Iron County versus $1,087 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $165,900, a typical Iron County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 89% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1972.
| Housing | Iron County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $662/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,900 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 89% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Iron 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 Iron County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Iron County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 2,984 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurley | city | 1,354 | $47,083 | $678 | 8 mi |
| Montreal | city | 909 | $66,364 | $585 | 7 mi |
| Mercer | CDP | 365 | $37,917 | $334 | 16 mi |
| Pence | CDP | 149 | $70,625 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Iron Belt | CDP | 140 | $57,969 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Saxon | CDP | 67 | $48,750 | n/a | 14 mi |
The counties around Iron County
Ashland County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Sawyer County, is 53 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Iron County; Bayfield County is highest at $71,151 and Gogebic County lowest at $52,732. Some neighbors are in Michigan. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Iron County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | - | $60,625 | $662/mo | 89% |
| Ashland County, WI | 25 mi | $62,462 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 25 mi | $52,732 | $623/mo | 81% |
| Vilas County, WI | 41 mi | $68,431 | $847/mo | 84% |
| Price County, WI | 45 mi | $60,546 | $786/mo | 82% |
| Bayfield County, WI | 48 mi | $71,151 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 53 mi | $60,801 | $712/mo | 77% |
Debt-to-income at Iron County's medians
Iron County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,052 before taxes
- 13% goes to median rent ($662)
- $1,106: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,611: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $662, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Iron County
A few patterns in the Iron County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Iron County's median age is 56.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Iron County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Iron County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Lender oversight for Iron County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Iron County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Checklist for Iron County applicants
A short checklist for Iron County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Iron County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Iron County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Iron County earn?
The median is $60,625; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Iron County?
$662 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I own my home in Iron County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 89% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Iron County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Hurley, Montreal, Mercer, Pence, Iron Belt.
Will a Iron County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.