1st Advantage MortgageIn Juneau County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $67,270 a year and the typical rent is $879. 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
- Juneau County, WI: the basics
- What Juneau County households earn
- What it costs to live in Juneau County
- Jobs and commutes in Juneau County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Juneau County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Juneau County
- Juneau County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Juneau County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Juneau County residents
- More guides for Juneau County
- Frequently asked questions
Juneau County, WI: the basics
Roughly 26,689 residents live in Juneau County, Wisconsin, 46th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 767 square miles of land, or about 35 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Juneau County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Mauston is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 4,248 people (16% of the county total).
What Juneau County households earn
At $67,270, the typical Juneau County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Juneau County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Juneau County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.0%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Juneau County median.
What it costs to live in Juneau County
A typical Juneau County rental runs $879 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Wisconsin. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. Home values center on $177,700, or 2.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1981.
| Home costs | Juneau County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $879/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $177,700 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.5% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Juneau County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Jobs and commutes in Juneau County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward public administration (8% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Juneau County. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Juneau County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | +2.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Adams County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Richland County, is 42 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Juneau County; Sauk County is highest at $79,541 and Adams County lowest at $59,442.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau County | - | $67,270 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Adams County, WI | 17 mi | $59,442 | $828/mo | 86% |
| Monroe County, WI | 25 mi | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
| Marquette County, WI | 36 mi | $65,681 | $800/mo | 81% |
| Sauk County, WI | 36 mi | $79,541 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
| Wood County, WI | 37 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Richland County, WI | 42 mi | $66,420 | $771/mo | 74% |
Juneau County towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Juneau County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 11,982 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,630 in Necedah to $72,708 in Wonewoc. Median rent ranges from $513 in Wonewoc to $1,129 in Lyndon Station. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauston | city | 4,248 | $63,636 | $879 | 9 mi |
| New Lisbon | city | 2,562 | $70,855 | $776 | 5 mi |
| Elroy | city | 1,522 | $58,385 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Necedah | village | 1,142 | $56,630 | $939 | 6 mi |
| Camp Douglas | village | 762 | $68,235 | $829 | 8 mi |
| Lyndon Station | village | 720 | $70,694 | $1,129 | 19 mi |
| Wonewoc | village | 670 | $72,708 | $513 | 20 mi |
| Union Center | village | 215 | $64,583 | $840 | 19 mi |
| Hustler | village | 141 | $51,500 | $667 | 8 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Juneau County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Juneau County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Juneau County: $5,606
- Less median rent of $879, which is 16% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,018 total minus rent leaves $1,139
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,532 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $879, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Juneau County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Juneau County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Juneau County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Before borrowing in Juneau County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Juneau County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 19% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Juneau County's median age is 45.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Juneau County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Wisconsin.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Juneau County residents
Juneau County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
More guides for Juneau County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Juneau County?
$67,270 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 51st of 72 in the state.
Is Juneau County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $879 against $1,087 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Juneau County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Juneau 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 Juneau County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Mauston, New Lisbon, Elroy, Necedah, Camp Douglas.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Juneau County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.