1st Advantage MortgageThe median Monroe County household earns $69,467, and 12% 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
- A quick profile of Monroe County
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- What Monroe County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
- Towns and communities in Monroe County
- How Monroe County compares with nearby counties
- Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
- What a median Monroe County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Monroe County
- Checklist for Monroe County applicants
- More guides for Monroe County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Monroe County
Monroe County is home to about 46,208 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 31st most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. Land area is 901 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 51 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Monroe County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (10 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Sparta, with about 9,950 residents, or 22% of the county.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Monroe County averages 3.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Monroe County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +3.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Monroe County households earn
At $69,467, the typical Monroe County household income is 6% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 41st among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Monroe County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -3.8 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. 11.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.419 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Monroe 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
A typical Monroe County rental runs $914 a month including utilities, which is 16% below Wisconsin. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $210,000, about 3.0 times the median household income. 73% of Monroe County households own their home and 27% rent. Median construction year: 1980.
| Monroe County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $914/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $210,000 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.9% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Monroe 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.
Towns and communities in Monroe County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Monroe County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 23,586 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $85,598 at the median in Wilton, $51,274 in Tomah. Rent is cheapest in Wilton ($575) and steepest in Cashton ($1,019). Live in one of these Monroe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | city | 9,950 | $64,973 | $861 | 10 mi |
| Tomah | city | 9,532 | $51,274 | $903 | 7 mi |
| Cashton | village | 1,281 | $70,074 | $1,019 | 16 mi |
| Norwalk | village | 662 | $66,146 | $787 | 8 mi |
| Wilton | village | 532 | $85,598 | $575 | 10 mi |
| Warrens | village | 438 | $67,321 | $1,165 | 14 mi |
| Kendall | village | 379 | $58,750 | $665 | 16 mi |
| Oakdale | village | 321 | $88,182 | $870 | 12 mi |
| Wyeville | village | 159 | $65,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Cataract | CDP | 138 | $51,964 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Tunnel City | CDP | 105 | $250,001 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Melvina | village | 89 | $58,750 | n/a | 13 mi |
How Monroe County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Monroe County's, from 25 to 42 miles away. Income ranges from $59,442 in Adams County to $73,013 in La Crosse County; 2 of these neighbors top Monroe County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 25 mi | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Juneau County, WI | 25 mi | $67,270 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Vernon County, WI | 26 mi | $71,893 | $836/mo | 80% |
| Jackson County, WI | 28 mi | $68,110 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Richland County, WI | 40 mi | $66,420 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Adams County, WI | 42 mi | $59,442 | $828/mo | 86% |
Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
21% of Monroe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Monroe County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.3% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.9% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Monroe County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
What a median Monroe County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Monroe County's medians:
- $69,467 a year is $5,789 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $914, which is 16% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,170 a month
- $1,575: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $914, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Monroe County
Consumer lenders serving Monroe County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Monroe County applicants
A short checklist for Monroe County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Monroe County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Monroe County household make?
About $69,467 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Wisconsin median.
Is Monroe County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $914 against $1,087 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Monroe County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Monroe County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Monroe County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sparta, Tomah, Cashton, Norwalk, Wilton and 7 more.
Can Monroe County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Wisconsin county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.