1st Advantage MortgageThe median Racine County household earns $78,096, and 10% 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
- Racine County, WI: the basics
- Housing costs in Racine County
- Household income in Racine County
- Employment and commuting in Racine County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Racine County
- The counties around Racine County
- What a median Racine County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Racine County
- Racine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Lender oversight for Racine County
- Checklist for Racine County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Racine County, WI: the basics
Racine County is home to about 197,532 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. Land area is 333 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 594 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Racine is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 77,633 people (39% of the county total).
Housing costs in Racine County
A typical Racine County rental runs $1,080 a month including utilities. By the Census definition, 43% of Racine County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $251,400, about 3.2 times the median household income. 71% of Racine County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1968.
| Measure | Racine County | Wisconsin | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,080/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $251,400 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% | 3.1% | n/a |
Household income in Racine County
Racine County households have a median income of $78,096 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 18th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Households earning | Racine County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.8% | -0.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Racine County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.3% of Racine County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.425 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Racine County median.
Employment and commuting in Racine County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Racine County residents work in education and health care and 21% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 21% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Racine County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Racine County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.8% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Racine County
17 Census places fall mainly inside Racine County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 176,767 residents, leaving about 11% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Wind Point has the highest median household income on the list ($142,955) and Racine the lowest ($57,740), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 17 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racine | city | 77,633 | $57,740 | $1,033 | 4 mi |
| Mount Pleasant | village | 27,953 | $91,616 | $1,127 | 8 mi |
| Caledonia | village | 25,257 | $93,152 | $1,141 | 5 mi |
| Sturtevant | village | 6,772 | $92,647 | $981 | 9 mi |
| Waterford | village | 5,692 | $82,404 | $1,374 | 23 mi |
| Tichigan | CDP | 5,052 | $126,933 | $1,201 | 22 mi |
| Union Grove | village | 5,036 | $107,482 | $1,143 | 16 mi |
| Wind Lake | CDP | 4,836 | $102,855 | $1,169 | 20 mi |
| Raymond | village | 3,945 | $109,464 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Rochester | village | 3,764 | $107,038 | $855 | 25 mi |
| Yorkville | village | 3,243 | $122,936 | $1,632 | 12 mi |
| Bohners Lake | CDP | 2,460 | $76,359 | $1,144 | 28 mi |
| Browns Lake | CDP | 1,827 | $129,196 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Wind Point | village | 1,531 | $142,955 | $2,200 | 0 mi |
The counties around Racine County
Milwaukee County is closest, 10 miles from center to center; the sixth, McHenry County, is 47 miles off. Lake County leads the group on income ($110,416), Milwaukee County trails ($64,435), and Racine County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racine County | - | $78,096 | $1,080/mo | 71% |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 10 mi | $64,435 | $1,101/mo | 50% |
| Kenosha County, WI | 14 mi | $81,239 | $1,219/mo | 67% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 32 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Walworth County, WI | 40 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Lake County, IL | 41 mi | $110,416 | $1,477/mo | 75% |
| McHenry County, IL | 47 mi | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
What a median Racine County budget can carry
How much room does a median Racine County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $6,508 gross per month ($78,096 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,080, takes 17% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,263 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Racine County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Racine County borrowers.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Racine County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Racine County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Racine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
28% of Racine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Racine County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.4% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Lender oversight for Racine County
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Checklist for Racine County applicants
Steps that save money for Racine County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Racine County a high-income county?
Its $78,096 median ranks 18th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Racine County?
$1,080 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Racine County?
By population: Racine, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Sturtevant, Waterford. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Racine County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Racine 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.