1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oneida County household earns $69,371, and 9% 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 Oneida County
- Paychecks and income spread in Oneida County
- Oneida County housing compared with Wisconsin
- How Oneida County residents earn a living
- How Oneida County compares with nearby counties
- Oneida County towns compared
- A Oneida County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Oneida County
- What the numbers mean for Oneida County borrowers
- Checklist for Oneida County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Oneida County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Oneida County
Roughly 38,167 residents live in Oneida County, Wisconsin, 39th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,114 square miles, that works out to roughly 34.3 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Oneida County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Oneida County, Rhinelander leads by population with about 8,316; 1 of the 5 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Oneida County
At $69,371, the typical Oneida County household income is 6% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Oneida County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -2.7 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 10.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Oneida County median.
Oneida County housing compared with Wisconsin
Renters in Oneida County pay a median of $885 a month, 19% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. Home values center on $238,400, or 3.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median year built is 1980.
| Oneida County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $885/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $238,400 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.2% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Oneida 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 Oneida County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Oneida County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). Retail trade stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Oneida County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Oneida County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.6% | +3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | -5.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +1.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Oneida County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Oneida County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Vilas County at 23 miles out to Gogebic County at 55. Vilas County leads the group on income ($68,431), Gogebic County trails ($52,732), and Oneida County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Michigan, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida County | - | $69,371 | $885/mo | 82% |
| Vilas County, WI | 23 mi | $68,431 | $847/mo | 84% |
| Lincoln County, WI | 28 mi | $68,164 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Forest County, WI | 37 mi | $61,071 | $594/mo | 82% |
| Langlade County, WI | 39 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
| Price County, WI | 40 mi | $60,546 | $786/mo | 82% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 55 mi | $52,732 | $623/mo | 81% |
Oneida County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Oneida County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 9,993 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Oneida County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinelander | city | 8,316 | $51,421 | $804 | 8 mi |
| Woodruff | CDP | 580 | $70,625 | $778 | 14 mi |
| Minocqua | CDP | 497 | $41,436 | $741 | 14 mi |
| Three Lakes | CDP | 410 | $44,844 | $770 | 19 mi |
| Lake Tomahawk | CDP | 190 | $62,981 | $855 | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Oneida County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Oneida County's medians:
- $5,781 a month: gross income for a household at the Oneida County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($885)
- $1,196: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Oneida County's.
People and households in Oneida County
29% of Oneida County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Oneida County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
What the numbers mean for Oneida County borrowers
Based on the Oneida County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fixed incomes. Oneida County's median age is 52.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Oneida County borrower sees (free reports).
Checklist for Oneida County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Oneida County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Oneida County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Oneida County earn?
The median is $69,371; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Oneida County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$885 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 19% below.
What are the biggest places in Oneida County?
By population: Rhinelander, Woodruff, Minocqua, Three Lakes, Lake Tomahawk. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Oneida County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Oneida County residents?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Wisconsin; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.