1st Advantage MortgagePepin County households have a median income of $75,256 and median rent of $869 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Pepin County
- Income in Pepin County compared with Wisconsin
- Rent, home values and ownership in Pepin County
- The Pepin County job picture
- Places inside Pepin County
- Regional comparison for Pepin County
- Debt-to-income at Pepin County's medians
- Pepin County households compared
- Before borrowing in Pepin County
- Licensing and complaints for Pepin County
- Four steps for Pepin County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Pepin County
With an estimated 7,431 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pepin County ranks 69th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Spread over 232 square miles, that works out to roughly 32.0 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pepin County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Durand is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 1,731 people (23% of the county total). Because Pepin County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Pepin County compared with Wisconsin
The median household income in Pepin County is $75,256; statewide it is $77,485, so Pepin County runs 3% below Wisconsin as a whole.
| Band | Pepin County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.3% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -2.7 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 10.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Pepin County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Pepin County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $869 in Pepin County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. Home values center on $214,800, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 83%.
| Home costs | Pepin County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $869/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $214,800 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 3.1% | n/a |
Because most Pepin 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.
The Pepin County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Pepin County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 73% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Pepin County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Pepin County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Pepin County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 2,875 residents, leaving about 61% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Pepin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durand | city | 1,731 | $58,820 | $830 | 6 mi |
| Pepin | village | 736 | $54,821 | $844 | 20 mi |
| Arkansaw | CDP | 334 | $75,530 | $933 | 9 mi |
| Stockholm | village | 74 | $66,607 | n/a | 24 mi |
Regional comparison for Pepin County
Buffalo County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Trempealeau County, is 32 miles off. Income ranges from $70,479 in Buffalo County to $92,109 in Pierce County; 3 of these neighbors top Pepin County's median. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pepin County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepin County | - | $75,256 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Buffalo County, WI | 17 mi | $70,479 | $876/mo | 78% |
| Dunn County, WI | 22 mi | $74,824 | $985/mo | 67% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 28 mi | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| Pierce County, WI | 30 mi | $92,109 | $1,044/mo | 75% |
| Wabasha County, MN | 31 mi | $82,007 | $830/mo | 83% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 32 mi | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income at Pepin County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pepin County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,271 gross per month ($75,256 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $869 uses 14%
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,828 a month
If your rent is above $869, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Pepin County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Pepin County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.0% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Pepin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Before borrowing in Pepin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pepin County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pepin County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Fixed incomes. Pepin County's median age is 46.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Pepin County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Licensing and complaints for Pepin County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Pepin County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
Four steps for Pepin County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pepin County household make?
About $75,256 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Wisconsin median.
What do renters pay in Pepin County?
$869 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Pepin County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Pepin 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 Pepin County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Durand, Pepin, Arkansaw, Stockholm.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Pepin County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.