1st Advantage MortgageAbout 71% of Rock County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $75,673. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Rock County by the numbers
- How Rock County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Rock County
- What it costs to live in Rock County
- Rock County towns compared
- Rock County and the counties next door
- A Rock County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Rock County
- Who lives in Rock County, in numbers
- A Rock County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Rock County by the numbers
Rock County is home to about 164,350 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. It covers 718 square miles of land, or about 229 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Janesville-Beloit, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (8 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Janesville, with about 66,030 residents, or 40% of the county.
How Rock County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Rock County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (19%). The survey's unemployment rate for Rock County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 80% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Rock County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Rock County
At $75,673, the typical Rock County household income is 15% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Rock County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -2.6 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 10.6%. For a borrower in Rock 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.
What it costs to live in Rock County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,037 in Rock County versus $1,087 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Rock County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $231,600, or 3.1 years of median income. 71% of Rock County households own their home and 29% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Home costs | Rock County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,037/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,600 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% | 3.1% | n/a |
Rock County towns compared
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Rock County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 124,772 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $85,959 at the median in Milton, $62,663 in Beloit. No Rock County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville | city | 66,030 | $73,446 | $1,054 | 3 mi |
| Beloit | city | 36,534 | $62,663 | $1,066 | 11 mi |
| Edgerton | city | 6,014 | $72,489 | $961 | 12 mi |
| Evansville | city | 5,782 | $81,149 | $1,093 | 13 mi |
| Milton | city | 5,706 | $85,959 | $930 | 10 mi |
| Clinton | village | 2,041 | $72,019 | $1,010 | 13 mi |
| Orfordville | village | 1,473 | $65,417 | $388 | 10 mi |
| Footville | village | 908 | $68,571 | $757 | 7 mi |
| Hanover | CDP | 130 | $60,972 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Shopiere | CDP | 123 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Fulton | CDP | 31 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Rock County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 32 miles). Dane County leads the group on income ($89,975), Winnebago County trails ($65,837), and Rock County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Rock County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | - | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Winnebago County, IL | 23 mi | $65,837 | $1,021/mo | 66% |
| Green County, WI | 27 mi | $82,852 | $867/mo | 76% |
| Walworth County, WI | 27 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Boone County, IL | 27 mi | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 28 mi | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Dane County, WI | 32 mi | $89,975 | $1,398/mo | 57% |
A Rock County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Rock County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,306 a month: gross income for a household at the Rock County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($1,037)
- $1,485: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Rock County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Rock County
Where the Rock County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Rock County borrower sees (free reports).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who lives in Rock County, in numbers
26% of Rock County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Indicator | Rock County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.8% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Rock County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
A Rock County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rock County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Rock County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Rock County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rock County earn?
The median is $75,673; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Rock County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$1,037 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 5% below.
Should Rock County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Rock County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Rock County?
By population: Janesville, Beloit, Edgerton, Evansville, Milton. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Can Rock 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.