1st Advantage MortgageThe median Marinette County household earns $63,809, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Marinette County, WI: the basics
- The Marinette County job picture
- Household income in Marinette County
- Housing costs in Marinette County
- How Marinette County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Marinette County
- Room for a loan payment in Marinette County
- Who lives in Marinette County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Marinette County
- Who licenses lenders for Marinette County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Marinette County
- Frequently asked questions
Marinette County, WI: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Marinette County's population at 42,046; only 35 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,399 square miles, that works out to roughly 30.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 11 Census places inside Marinette County, Marinette leads by population with about 11,115; 7 of the 11 are incorporated.
The Marinette County job picture
Manufacturing employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Manufacturing stands out: 28% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Marinette County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 81% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Marinette County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.4% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 5.5% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Marinette County
At $63,809, the typical Marinette County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 60th of 72.
| Income band | Share in Marinette County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.6% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Marinette County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.8% of Marinette County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.403 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Marinette 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 Marinette County
Renters in Marinette County pay a median of $795 a month, 27% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. By the Census definition, 31% of Marinette County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $158,600, a typical Marinette County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Marinette County households own their home and 18% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Housing | Marinette County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $795/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,600 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Marinette 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.
How Marinette County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Oconto County at 26 miles out to Dickinson County at 46. Income ranges from $56,435 in Menominee County to $75,049 in Oconto County; 2 of these neighbors top Marinette County's median. The list crosses into Michigan, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette County | - | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Oconto County, WI | 26 mi | $75,049 | $791/mo | 85% |
| Menominee County, MI | 27 mi | $56,435 | $692/mo | 81% |
| Menominee County, WI | 41 mi | $62,108 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Florence County, WI | 41 mi | $61,086 | $750/mo | 91% |
| Forest County, WI | 44 mi | $61,071 | $594/mo | 82% |
| Dickinson County, MI | 46 mi | $65,156 | $797/mo | 82% |
Places inside Marinette County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Marinette County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,897 in Wausaukee to $66,990 in Peshtigo. Live in one of these Marinette County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marinette | city | 11,115 | $58,638 | $807 | 25 mi |
| Peshtigo | city | 3,398 | $66,990 | $825 | 23 mi |
| Niagara | city | 1,464 | $60,994 | $910 | 30 mi |
| Crivitz | village | 993 | $55,250 | $735 | 8 mi |
| Coleman | village | 942 | $55,625 | $717 | 19 mi |
| Wausaukee | village | 531 | $48,897 | $591 | 3 mi |
| Pound | village | 379 | $70,714 | $603 | 17 mi |
| Pembine | CDP | 269 | $31,378 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Amberg | CDP | 185 | $40,663 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Goodman | CDP | 170 | $43,125 | $533 | 26 mi |
| Dunbar | CDP | 96 | $85,625 | n/a | 23 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Marinette County
How much room does a median Marinette County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Marinette County: $5,317
- Rent at the median, $795, takes 15% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,332 a month
If your rent is above $795, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Marinette County, in numbers
20% of Marinette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Marinette County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Marinette County
Where the Marinette County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Marinette County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who licenses lenders for Marinette County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Marinette County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Marinette County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Marinette County?
$63,809 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 60th of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Marinette County?
$795 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Marinette County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Marinette County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Marinette?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Marinette County, such as Peshtigo, Niagara, Crivitz.
Will a Marinette County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.