1st Advantage MortgageThe median Richland County household earns $66,420, and 15% 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
- Richland County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Richland County
- Paychecks and income spread in Richland County
- Jobs and commutes in Richland County
- Counties near Richland County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Richland County
- A Richland County household budget, worked through
- More Richland County figures
- What the numbers mean for Richland County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Steps before you apply in Richland County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Richland County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Richland County's population at 17,205; only 56 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 586 square miles, that works out to roughly 29.4 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Richland County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Richland County, Richland Center leads by population with about 5,109; 4 of the 6 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Richland County
A typical Richland County rental runs $771 a month including utilities, which is 29% below Wisconsin. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,500, about 3.0 times the median household income. 74% of Richland County households own their home and 26% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1971.
| Cost | Richland County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $771/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $197,500 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Richland County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Paychecks and income spread in Richland County
At $66,420, the typical Richland County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Richland County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.2% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -4.3 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. 14.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. For a borrower in Richland County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Richland County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Richland County residents work in manufacturing and 21% in education and health care. Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Sector | Richland County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.2% | +5.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.7% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Richland County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 40 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Iowa County leads the group on income ($82,182), Crawford County trails ($64,094), and Richland County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | - | $66,420 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Vernon County, WI | 25 mi | $71,893 | $836/mo | 80% |
| Sauk County, WI | 25 mi | $79,541 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
| Crawford County, WI | 27 mi | $64,094 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Iowa County, WI | 30 mi | $82,182 | $954/mo | 77% |
| Grant County, WI | 37 mi | $66,858 | $813/mo | 70% |
| Monroe County, WI | 40 mi | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Richland County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Richland County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 6,649 people, so roughly 61% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland Center | city | 5,109 | $51,932 | $683 | 4 mi |
| Lone Rock | village | 734 | $60,375 | $831 | 18 mi |
| Sextonville | CDP | 459 | $72,063 | $1,138 | 10 mi |
| Gotham | CDP | 177 | $78,125 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Boaz | village | 116 | $63,438 | $925 | 6 mi |
| Yuba | village | 54 | $29,188 | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Richland County household budget, worked through
Here is the Richland County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,535 before taxes
- Less median rent of $771, which is 14% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,222 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,609 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Richland County figures
21% of Richland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Richland County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.2% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
What the numbers mean for Richland County borrowers
What the Richland County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 46.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Richland County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Before sharing details with a lender, a Richland County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Steps before you apply in Richland County
Quick steps for Richland County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Richland County-area credit union.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- 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 Richland County household make?
About $66,420 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the Wisconsin median.
What do renters pay in Richland County?
$771 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Richland County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Richland County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Richland Center?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Richland County, such as Lone Rock, Sextonville, Gotham.
Does living in Richland 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 Richland County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.