1st Advantage MortgageIn Kenosha County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $81,239 a year and the typical rent is $1,219. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Kenosha County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Kenosha County
- How Kenosha County ranks in Wisconsin
- Employment and commuting in Kenosha County
- Income in Kenosha County compared with Wisconsin
- Renting and owning in Kenosha County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- The communities that make up Kenosha County
- Debt-to-income at Kenosha County's medians
- People and households in Kenosha County
- Borrowing situations common in Kenosha County
- Steps before you apply in Kenosha County
- Wisconsin lender licensing
- Other Wisconsin guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Kenosha County
With an estimated 168,438 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kenosha County ranks 8th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. It covers 272 square miles of land, or about 620 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Kenosha, WI metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Kenosha County, Kenosha leads by population with about 99,372; 7 of the 10 are incorporated.
How Kenosha County ranks in Wisconsin
Where Kenosha County lands at the extremes of Wisconsin's county rankings:
- Few Wisconsin counties match Kenosha County on median gross rent: $1,219/mo here, $1,087/mo for the state, ranking 4th highest of 72. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Kenosha County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 47%, 6th highest of 72. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Kenosha County ranks 7th lowest of 72 Wisconsin counties for homeownership: 67%, against 68% statewide. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- Few Wisconsin counties match Kenosha County on population: 168,438 here, 5,914,872 for the state, ranking 8th highest of 72. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
Employment and commuting in Kenosha County
Top Kenosha County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 22%; second, manufacturing, 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 13% locally and 11% for Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 16%; under 15 minutes: 30%. 3,390 Kenosha County households, 4.9%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Kenosha County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +1.7 pts |
Self-employed in Kenosha County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Income in Kenosha County compared with Wisconsin
$81,239 is the median household income for Kenosha County, set against $77,485 for Wisconsin. Only 13 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Kenosha County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | -1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | +0.3 pts |
On the low end, 19% of Kenosha County households report under $35,000; at the top, 40% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 10.5% of Kenosha County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. Gini index for Kenosha County: 0.428. For a borrower in Kenosha 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.
Renting and owning in Kenosha County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,219 in Kenosha County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $265,500, or 3.3 years of median income. In Kenosha County, 67% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Kenosha County | Wisconsin | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,219/mo | $1,087/mo | 12% higher |
| Median home value | $265,500 | $266,500 | level |
| Owners | 67% | 68% | -1.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 44% | +3.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | +0.8 pts |
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kenosha County's, from 14 to 37 miles away. Kenosha County's $81,239 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $64,435 (Milwaukee County) to $110,416 (Lake County). The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha County | - | $81,239 | $1,219/mo | 67% |
| Racine County, WI | 14 mi | $78,096 | $1,080/mo | 71% |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 22 mi | $64,435 | $1,101/mo | 50% |
| Lake County, IL | 28 mi | $110,416 | $1,477/mo | 75% |
| Walworth County, WI | 34 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| McHenry County, IL | 34 mi | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 37 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Kenosha County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 95% of Kenosha County residents live in one of the 10. Bristol ($123,648) and Kenosha ($71,239) mark the top and bottom of Kenosha County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Twin Lakes ($870) and steepest in Pleasant Prairie ($1,458). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha | city | 99,372 | $71,239 | $1,186 | 0 mi |
| Pleasant Prairie | village | 21,669 | $103,902 | $1,458 | 4 mi |
| Salem Lakes | village | 14,366 | $94,819 | $1,184 | 13 mi |
| Somers | village | 8,216 | $80,488 | $1,455 | 4 mi |
| Twin Lakes | village | 6,309 | $86,222 | $870 | 19 mi |
| Bristol | village | 5,207 | $123,648 | $1,328 | 8 mi |
| Paddock Lake | village | 2,947 | $87,800 | $1,283 | 12 mi |
| Powers Lake | CDP | 1,278 | $83,750 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Lily Lake | CDP | 456 | $77,824 | n/a | 17 mi |
| New Munster | CDP | 234 | $85,673 | n/a | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Kenosha County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kenosha County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,770 a month: gross income for a household at the Kenosha County median
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,219)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,911 total minus rent leaves $1,692
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Kenosha County
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Kenosha County | Compared with Wisconsin | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 10.7% | -2.4 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.2% | -2.2 pts | +9.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | +1.6 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | -1.5 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | +1.2 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Median age | 39.4 | -0.8 yrs | -2.1 yrs |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | +0.5 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | -0.1 pts | -2.7 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Kenosha County
What the Kenosha County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Kenosha County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Kenosha County borrower sees (free reports).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Steps before you apply in Kenosha County
Steps that save money for Kenosha County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Kenosha County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Wisconsin lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Kenosha 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. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Other Wisconsin guides
No city in Kenosha County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $81,239 a good income in Kenosha County?
It is the county median, so half of Kenosha County households earn more and half less; 40% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Kenosha County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,219 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
How many towns are in Kenosha County?
The Census Bureau counts 10 places mainly in the county, led by Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Salem Lakes, Somers, Twin Lakes.
Is the fit check different in Kenosha County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Kenosha County check a lender's license?
With the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.