1st Advantage MortgageIn Jefferson County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $83,750 a year and the typical rent is $1,035. 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 Jefferson County
- What Jefferson County households earn
- Housing costs in Jefferson County
- Employment and commuting in Jefferson County
- Towns and communities in Jefferson County
- The counties around Jefferson County
- Budget math at the Jefferson County median
- Who lives in Jefferson County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Jefferson County
- Licensing and complaints for Jefferson County
- Checklist for Jefferson County applicants
- More guides for Jefferson County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jefferson County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Jefferson County's population at 86,003; only 19 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. It covers 556 square miles of land, or about 155 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jefferson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (10 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Watertown, with about 22,774 residents, or 26% of the county.
What Jefferson County households earn
Jefferson County households have a median income of $83,750 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 10th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Yearly household income | Jefferson County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.3% | +4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Jefferson County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.1%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Jefferson 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.
Housing costs in Jefferson County
A typical Jefferson County rental runs $1,035 a month including utilities, which is 5% below Wisconsin. By the Census definition, 39% of Jefferson County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $274,100, or 3.3 years of median income. 73% of Jefferson County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Cost | Jefferson County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,035/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $274,100 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% | 3.1% | 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 Jefferson County
The biggest employer of Jefferson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (21%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 21% locally and 18% for Wisconsin. The survey's unemployment rate for Jefferson County averages 3.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jefferson County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Jefferson County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 97% of Jefferson County residents live in one of the 16. Lake Ripley has the highest median household income on the list ($116,179) and Whitewater the lowest ($54,969), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $775 in Palmyra to $1,350 in Lake Ripley. No Jefferson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 16.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | city | 22,774 | $70,107 | $1,052 | 12 mi |
| Whitewater | city | 15,807 | $54,969 | $1,041 | 12 mi |
| Fort Atkinson | city | 12,463 | $79,302 | $961 | 7 mi |
| Jefferson | city | 7,732 | $79,006 | $1,071 | 2 mi |
| Lake Mills | city | 6,470 | $91,027 | $1,209 | 8 mi |
| Waterloo | city | 3,600 | $87,776 | $1,106 | 16 mi |
| Johnson Creek | village | 3,362 | $100,685 | $1,231 | 5 mi |
| Ixonia | CDP | 2,684 | $93,359 | $1,167 | 12 mi |
| Palmyra | village | 2,195 | $86,058 | $775 | 13 mi |
| Lake Ripley | CDP | 1,932 | $116,179 | $1,350 | 11 mi |
| Cambridge | village | 1,617 | $87,917 | $1,220 | 13 mi |
| Lake Koshkonong | CDP | 1,010 | $97,115 | $1,296 | 14 mi |
| Sullivan | village | 663 | $71,250 | $1,160 | 9 mi |
| Rome | CDP | 620 | $92,083 | $1,047 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Jefferson County
Distances run center to center, from Waukesha County at 24 miles out to Washington County at 38. Income ranges from $75,673 in Rock County to $106,076 in Waukesha County; 3 of these neighbors top Jefferson County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 24 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Walworth County, WI | 27 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Rock County, WI | 28 mi | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Dodge County, WI | 29 mi | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
| Dane County, WI | 33 mi | $89,975 | $1,398/mo | 57% |
| Washington County, WI | 38 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
Budget math at the Jefferson County median
Jefferson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $83,750 a year is $6,979 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,035, takes 15% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $3,001 total minus rent leaves $1,966
Two-income households and single earners in Jefferson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Jefferson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.8%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Indicator | Jefferson County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.5% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jefferson County
What the Jefferson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Jefferson County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Licensing and complaints for Jefferson County
Consumer lenders serving Jefferson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Jefferson County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Jefferson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wisconsin borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Jefferson County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jefferson County a high-income county?
Its $83,750 median ranks 10th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Jefferson County?
$1,035 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I own my home in Jefferson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Jefferson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: Watertown, Whitewater, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Lake Mills.
Are Jefferson County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.