1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Marathon County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $77,884. 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
- Marathon County at a glance
- Marathon County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Paychecks and income spread in Marathon County
- Jobs and commutes in Marathon County
- Marathon County towns compared
- The counties around Marathon County
- Debt-to-income at Marathon County's medians
- Marathon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Marathon County
- Steps before you apply in Marathon County
- Who licenses lenders for Marathon County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Marathon County at a glance
With an estimated 138,403 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Marathon County ranks 10th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. It covers 1,545 square miles of land, or about 90 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Wausau, WI metropolitan area. Wausau is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 39,996 people (29% of the county total).
Marathon County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $999 in Marathon County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $219,600, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 73%. Median construction year: 1978.
| Housing | Marathon County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $999/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $219,600 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 11% | 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).
Paychecks and income spread in Marathon County
At $77,884, the typical Marathon County household income is 19% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 18 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Marathon County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.0% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.4% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.6 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 8.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.417 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Marathon County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Marathon County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Marathon County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 21% locally and 18% for Wisconsin. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.9% in Marathon County. About 76% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Marathon County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.7% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -2.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Marathon County towns compared
17 Census places fall mainly inside Marathon County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 94,119 residents, leaving about 32% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $115,044 at the median in Kronenwetter, $52,750 in Athens. Rent is cheapest in Spencer ($580) and steepest in Rib Mountain ($1,290). This guide covers each of the 17 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau | city | 39,996 | $64,389 | $1,010 | 7 mi |
| Weston | village | 15,749 | $78,207 | $1,024 | 10 mi |
| Kronenwetter | village | 8,395 | $115,044 | $1,125 | 10 mi |
| Rib Mountain | village | 7,289 | $94,294 | $1,290 | 4 mi |
| Rothschild | village | 5,600 | $88,261 | $970 | 7 mi |
| Mosinee | city | 4,498 | $73,479 | $1,091 | 8 mi |
| Maine | village | 2,602 | $110,721 | $962 | 12 mi |
| Schofield | city | 2,120 | $65,583 | $926 | 7 mi |
| Spencer | village | 1,686 | $69,750 | $580 | 28 mi |
| Stratford | village | 1,438 | $66,739 | $783 | 17 mi |
| Marathon City | village | 1,422 | $89,519 | $853 | 5 mi |
| Edgar | village | 1,409 | $63,482 | $813 | 10 mi |
| Athens | village | 1,055 | $52,750 | $681 | 18 mi |
| Hatley | village | 542 | $93,750 | $862 | 21 mi |
The counties around Marathon County
Lincoln County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clark County, is 43 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Marathon County; Portage County is highest at $76,070 and Langlade County lowest at $55,878.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon County | - | $77,884 | $999/mo | 73% |
| Lincoln County, WI | 30 mi | $68,164 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Portage County, WI | 32 mi | $76,070 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Wood County, WI | 33 mi | $67,989 | $856/mo | 73% |
| Langlade County, WI | 42 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
| Taylor County, WI | 42 mi | $69,350 | $823/mo | 80% |
| Clark County, WI | 43 mi | $67,400 | $823/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Marathon County's medians
Here is the Marathon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,490 a month: gross income for a household at the Marathon County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($999)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,792 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Marathon County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Marathon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
28% of Marathon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| People and households | Marathon County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.1% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marathon County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Marathon County borrowers.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Steps before you apply in Marathon County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Marathon County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Marathon County residents
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marathon County?
$77,884 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 19th of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Marathon County?
$999 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I live in a small Marathon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Wausau, Weston, Kronenwetter, Rib Mountain, Rothschild and 12 more.
Is the fit check different in Marathon County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Marathon 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.