1st Advantage MortgageIn Outagamie County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $85,069 a year and the typical rent is $1,057. 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
- Getting oriented in Outagamie County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Outagamie County
- Household income in Outagamie County
- How Outagamie County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Outagamie County
- Outagamie County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Outagamie County's medians
- Who lives in Outagamie County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Outagamie County borrowers
- A Outagamie County borrower's checklist
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Outagamie County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Outagamie County
With an estimated 192,826 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Outagamie County ranks 6th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Land area is 638 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 302 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Appleton, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Appleton is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 75,023 people (39% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Outagamie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,057 in Outagamie County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. Home values center on $267,300, or 3.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Cost | Outagamie County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,057/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $267,300 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% | 3.1% | n/a |
Household income in Outagamie County
At $85,069, the typical Outagamie County household income is 30% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 9th of 72.
| Households earning | Outagamie County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.7% | -4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.1% | +3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | +0.8 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. 6.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.447 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $85,069 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Outagamie County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Outagamie County. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Outagamie County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.9% | +0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Outagamie County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Outagamie 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 56% of Outagamie County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $128,036 at the median in Dale, $60,313 in Shiocton. Rent is cheapest in Shiocton ($725) and steepest in Kimberly ($1,161). None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | city | 75,023 | $80,483 | $1,030 | 10 mi |
| Little Chute | village | 11,754 | $87,538 | $1,150 | 11 mi |
| Kimberly | village | 7,447 | $70,451 | $1,161 | 12 mi |
| Combined Locks | village | 3,622 | $93,490 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Seymour | city | 3,570 | $80,602 | $878 | 9 mi |
| Hortonville | village | 3,256 | $82,063 | $851 | 10 mi |
| Black Creek | village | 1,262 | $67,311 | $772 | 4 mi |
| Shiocton | village | 825 | $60,313 | $725 | 6 mi |
| Dale | CDP | 707 | $128,036 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Nichols | village | 332 | $62,604 | $900 | 10 mi |
| Bear Creek | village | 307 | $66,250 | $890 | 15 mi |
Outagamie County and the counties next door
Brown County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Menominee County, is 41 miles off. Calumet County leads the group on income ($88,810), Menominee County trails ($62,108), and Outagamie County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outagamie County | - | $85,069 | $1,057/mo | 71% |
| Brown County, WI | 23 mi | $79,649 | $1,031/mo | 66% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 25 mi | $74,925 | $965/mo | 66% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 25 mi | $72,830 | $852/mo | 75% |
| Calumet County, WI | 27 mi | $88,810 | $1,073/mo | 80% |
| Shawano County, WI | 29 mi | $66,479 | $821/mo | 78% |
| Menominee County, WI | 41 mi | $62,108 | $626/mo | 76% |
Debt-to-income at Outagamie County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Outagamie County's medians:
- $7,089 a month: gross income for a household at the Outagamie County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($1,057)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,552 total minus rent leaves $1,495
- $1,991: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Outagamie County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Outagamie County, in numbers
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Outagamie County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.7% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Outagamie County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
What the numbers mean for Outagamie County borrowers
What the Outagamie County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Consolidation math. With 42% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 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).
A Outagamie County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Outagamie County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Wisconsin rules that apply in Outagamie County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Outagamie County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Outagamie County earn?
The median is $85,069; 42% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Outagamie County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$1,057 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 3% below.
Which towns does the Outagamie County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, Seymour.
Can Outagamie 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Outagamie County?
Start with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.