1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Ozaukee County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $96,996. 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
- Who lives in Ozaukee County
- Jobs and commutes in Ozaukee County
- How much Ozaukee County households make
- Housing costs in Ozaukee County
- How Ozaukee County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Ozaukee County
- What a median Ozaukee County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Ozaukee County
- Ozaukee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Four steps for Ozaukee County borrowers
- More guides for Ozaukee County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ozaukee County
Roughly 92,966 residents live in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, 18th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 233 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 399 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 9 Census places inside Ozaukee County, Mequon leads by population with about 25,270; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Ozaukee County
The biggest employer of Ozaukee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Professional and administrative services stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.8% in Ozaukee County. About 74% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.9% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Sector | Ozaukee County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.2% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Ozaukee County households make
At $96,996, the typical Ozaukee County household income is 48% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 2 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Ozaukee County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.0% | -5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.4% | -5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.8% | +9.5 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 5.0%, 6 points lower than the state's 10.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.478 here. A household earning below the $96,996 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Ozaukee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,154 in Ozaukee County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Ozaukee County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $390,200, about 4.0 times the median household income. 73% of Ozaukee County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Home costs | Ozaukee County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,154/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $390,200 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.3% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 17 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $64,435 in Milwaukee County to $106,076 in Waukesha County; 1 of these neighbors top Ozaukee County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozaukee County | - | $96,996 | $1,154/mo | 73% |
| Sheboygan County, WI | 17 mi | $73,094 | $934/mo | 71% |
| Washington County, WI | 21 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 37 mi | $74,275 | $960/mo | 71% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 41 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 41 mi | $64,435 | $1,101/mo | 50% |
| Dodge County, WI | 43 mi | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Ozaukee County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Ozaukee County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 76,040 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $144,051 at the median in Mequon, $74,886 in Belgium. Rent is cheapest in Belgium ($924) and steepest in Mequon ($2,157). This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mequon | city | 25,270 | $144,051 | $2,157 | 22 mi |
| Port Washington | city | 12,645 | $81,948 | $1,008 | 8 mi |
| Cedarburg | city | 12,605 | $84,896 | $1,116 | 16 mi |
| Grafton | village | 12,445 | $89,861 | $1,310 | 13 mi |
| Saukville | village | 4,267 | $79,730 | $942 | 9 mi |
| Thiensville | village | 3,299 | $95,685 | $1,281 | 20 mi |
| Belgium | village | 2,488 | $74,886 | $924 | 0 mi |
| Fredonia | village | 2,448 | $99,013 | $1,049 | 5 mi |
| Waubeka | CDP | 573 | $75,859 | $940 | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Ozaukee County budget can carry
How much room does a median Ozaukee County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,083 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,154, which is 14% of it
- $1,675: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $2,483: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ozaukee County's.
Before borrowing in Ozaukee County
Based on the Ozaukee County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Ozaukee County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Ozaukee County borrower sees (free reports).
Ozaukee County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 51% of adults over 25. 2.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Ozaukee County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 51.2% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.2% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Ozaukee County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Four steps for Ozaukee County borrowers
A short checklist for Ozaukee County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Ozaukee County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wisconsin borrowers.
- Ask a Ozaukee County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Ozaukee County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Ozaukee County earn?
The median is $96,996; 49% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Ozaukee County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,154 against $1,087 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Ozaukee County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Ozaukee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Mequon, Port Washington, Cedarburg, Grafton, Saukville and 4 more.
Does living in Ozaukee County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Ozaukee County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.