1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oconto County household earns $75,049, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Oconto County
- What Oconto County households earn
- Oconto County housing compared with Wisconsin
- How Oconto County residents earn a living
- Places inside Oconto County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Oconto County
- More Oconto County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Oconto County
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Oconto County
- Four steps for Oconto County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Oconto County
Oconto County is home to about 39,589 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 38th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. It covers 997 square miles of land, or about 40 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Green Bay, WI metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (5 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Oconto, with about 4,625 residents, or 12% of the county.
What Oconto County households earn
At $75,049, the typical Oconto County household income is 14% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 28th among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Household income | Oconto County | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.7% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.7% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.4 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.405 here. For a borrower in Oconto 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.
Oconto County housing compared with Wisconsin
A typical Oconto County rental runs $791 a month including utilities, which is 27% below Wisconsin. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. With a median value of $231,400, a typical Oconto County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 85% of Oconto County households own their home and 15% rent.
| Measure | Oconto County | Wisconsin | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $791/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,400 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.6% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Oconto 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 Oconto County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Oconto County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 12% locally and 6% for Wisconsin. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Oconto County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Top industries | Oconto County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.3% | +4.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -2.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -3.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Oconto County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Oconto County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Oconto County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 10,858 residents, leaving about 73% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Oconto has the highest median household income on the list ($61,506) and Oconto Falls the lowest ($51,228), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Oconto Falls ($687) and steepest in Gillett ($811). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto | city | 4,625 | $61,506 | $785 | 18 mi |
| Oconto Falls | city | 3,001 | $51,228 | $687 | 10 mi |
| Gillett | city | 1,209 | $54,844 | $811 | 9 mi |
| Lena | village | 483 | $56,583 | $602 | 8 mi |
| Suring | village | 411 | $49,167 | $754 | 8 mi |
| Sobieski | CDP | 382 | $62,135 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Abrams | CDP | 278 | $97,500 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Mountain | CDP | 250 | $43,833 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Lakewood | CDP | 182 | $48,750 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Townsend | CDP | 37 | n/a | n/a | 29 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Menominee County at 23 miles out to Langlade County at 46. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Oconto County; Outagamie County is highest at $85,069 and Langlade County lowest at $55,878.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto County | - | $75,049 | $791/mo | 85% |
| Menominee County, WI | 23 mi | $62,108 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Marinette County, WI | 26 mi | $63,809 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Shawano County, WI | 30 mi | $66,479 | $821/mo | 78% |
| Brown County, WI | 38 mi | $79,649 | $1,031/mo | 66% |
| Outagamie County, WI | 42 mi | $85,069 | $1,057/mo | 71% |
| Langlade County, WI | 46 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
Room for a loan payment in Oconto County
How much room does a median Oconto County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,254 a month: gross income for a household at the Oconto County median
- Median rent: $791, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,898 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Oconto County figures
19% of Oconto County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Oconto County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Oconto County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Oconto County
Where the Oconto County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Older households. A 47.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Wisconsin rules that apply in Oconto County
Oconto County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Four steps for Oconto County borrowers
Steps that save money for Oconto County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Oconto County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Wisconsin.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oconto County a high-income county?
Its $75,049 median ranks 28th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Oconto County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $791 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Oconto County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 85% of Oconto County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Oconto County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Oconto, Oconto Falls, Gillett, Lena, Suring.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Oconto County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.