1st Advantage Mortgage32% of Lincoln County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $68,164 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Lincoln County offer.
On this page
- First look: Lincoln County, WI
- Lincoln County at the extremes
- Paychecks and income spread in Lincoln County
- The Lincoln County job picture
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- Lincoln County and the counties next door
- Census places in Lincoln County
- Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
- Budget math at the Lincoln County median
- Lincoln County households compared
- Lender oversight for Lincoln County
- Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Lincoln County, WI
Roughly 28,426 residents live in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, 45th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 879 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 32 per square mile. Metro status: none; Lincoln County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Largest place: Merrill, about 9,356 residents (33% of Lincoln County); 2 Census places in all.
Lincoln County at the extremes
The 4 Lincoln County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Wisconsin, and what each means for a borrower:
- Lincoln County ranks the highest of 72 Wisconsin counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 52%, against 44% statewide. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Few Wisconsin counties match Lincoln County on median gross rent: $755/mo here, $1,087/mo for the state, ranking 8th lowest of 72. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
- Median age: 49.3 in Lincoln County. Only 14 of 72 Wisconsin counties are higher. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
- Few Wisconsin counties match Lincoln County on median home value: $192,700 here, $266,500 for the state, ranking 15th lowest of 72. Lower values mean less equity to tap, so unsecured loans are the usual route.
Paychecks and income spread in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $68,164; statewide it is $77,485, so Lincoln County runs 12% below Wisconsin as a whole. That places it 47th among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Household income | Lincoln County | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -3.8 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Lincoln County: 10.6%; Wisconsin: 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.425 here. A household earning below the $68,164 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Lincoln County job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Lincoln County residents work in manufacturing and 22% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Lincoln County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. No car: 4.7% of Lincoln County households.
| Industry | Share of Lincoln County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.1% | +4.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +1.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
Lincoln County rent at the median: $755 a month, utilities in ($1,087 in Wisconsin). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. Home values center on $192,700, or 2.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Lincoln County | Wisconsin | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $755/mo | $1,087/mo | 31% lower |
| Median home value | $192,700 | $266,500 | 28% lower |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | +11.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 44% | +8.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | -1.8 pts |
| Vacant units | 22% | 11% | +11.0 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Lincoln 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Lincoln County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Oneida County at 28 miles out to Vilas County at 51. Richest neighbor: Marathon County, $77,884. Poorest: Langlade County, $55,878. Lincoln County: $68,164.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $68,164 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Oneida County, WI | 28 mi | $69,371 | $885/mo | 82% |
| Marathon County, WI | 30 mi | $77,884 | $999/mo | 73% |
| Langlade County, WI | 33 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
| Taylor County, WI | 38 mi | $69,350 | $823/mo | 80% |
| Price County, WI | 39 mi | $60,546 | $786/mo | 82% |
| Vilas County, WI | 51 mi | $68,431 | $847/mo | 84% |
Census places in Lincoln County
Places, by size: the top 2 of 2. Roughly 55% of Lincoln County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Merrill and every other Lincoln County community use this county guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill | city | 9,356 | $53,148 | $771 | 11 mi |
| Tomahawk | city | 3,395 | $60,223 | $529 | 10 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lincoln County borrowers.
- Age 49.3 at the median. Many Lincoln County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Lincoln County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Budget math at the Lincoln County median
DTI math using Lincoln County medians ($68,164 income, $755 rent):
- $68,164 a year is $5,680 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $755 uses 13%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,290 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,688 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $755, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lincoln County households compared
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20% of Lincoln County adults. Uninsured, Lincoln County: 4.7%; Wisconsin: 5.2%.
| Indicator | Lincoln County | +/- Wisconsin | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.6% | -13.8 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Median age | 49.3 | +9.1 yrs | +7.8 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -1.7 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Work from home | 11.6% | -1.5 pts | +2.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | +1.1 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | -0.5 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | -0.1 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 0.0 pts | -2.6 pts |
| Commute length | Lincoln County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Lender oversight for Lincoln County
Lincoln County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Nationally, Lincoln County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lincoln County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Wisconsin.
- Ask a Lincoln County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Lincoln County rank on income in Wisconsin?
47th of 72, with a median of $68,164. The state median is $77,485.
What is the median rent in Lincoln County, WI?
$755 a month, utilities included, or $9,060 a year.
Does this page cover Merrill?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Lincoln County, such as Tomahawk.
Is the fit check different in Lincoln County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
What agency protects Lincoln County borrowers?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.