1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Rusk County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,944. 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
- Getting oriented in Rusk County
- How much Rusk County households make
- Housing costs in Rusk County
- Jobs and commutes in Rusk County
- Counties near Rusk County
- Towns and communities in Rusk County
- People and households in Rusk County
- Local borrowing considerations for Rusk County
- Debt-to-income at Rusk County's medians
- A Rusk County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Rusk County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Rusk County
With an estimated 14,179 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Rusk County ranks 65th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Spread over 914 square miles, that works out to roughly 15.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Rusk County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Ladysmith is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 3,227 people (23% of the county total).
How much Rusk County households make
The median household income in Rusk County is $59,944; statewide it is $77,485, so Rusk County runs 23% below Wisconsin as a whole. That places it 70th among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Rusk County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -6.3 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 13.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Rusk County
A typical Rusk County rental runs $874 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Wisconsin. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $163,400, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Rusk County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $874/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $163,400 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.3% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 27% | 11% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Rusk County
Manufacturing employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 18%). The survey's unemployment rate for Rusk County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). About 77% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Rusk County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.7% | +6.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | +1.4 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 Rusk County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (27 to 43 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Rusk County; Chippewa County is highest at $74,680 and Price County lowest at $60,546.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusk County | - | $59,944 | $874/mo | 78% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 27 mi | $60,801 | $712/mo | 77% |
| Chippewa County, WI | 29 mi | $74,680 | $963/mo | 74% |
| Barron County, WI | 35 mi | $65,933 | $879/mo | 77% |
| Taylor County, WI | 36 mi | $69,350 | $823/mo | 80% |
| Price County, WI | 40 mi | $60,546 | $786/mo | 82% |
| Washburn County, WI | 43 mi | $63,441 | $795/mo | 82% |
Towns and communities in Rusk County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Rusk County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 5,156 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith | city | 3,227 | $41,719 | $882 | 2 mi |
| Bruce | village | 900 | $52,667 | $625 | 7 mi |
| Hawkins | village | 322 | $41,250 | $761 | 21 mi |
| Sheldon | village | 220 | $37,315 | $1,000 | 14 mi |
| Weyerhaeuser | village | 161 | $61,250 | $563 | 14 mi |
| Tony | village | 123 | $81,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Glen Flora | village | 89 | $68,750 | $425 | 12 mi |
| Conrath | village | 70 | n/a | $1,286 | 8 mi |
| Ingram | village | 44 | $48,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
People and households in Rusk County
17% of Rusk County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Rusk County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Rusk County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Rusk County
Based on the Rusk County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 21% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Retirees. At a median age of 49.2, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Debt-to-income at Rusk County's medians
Rusk County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,995 a month: gross income for a household at the Rusk County median
- Less median rent of $874, which is 17% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,274 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Rusk County's.
A Rusk County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Rusk County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Rusk County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wisconsin borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Rusk County residents
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Wisconsin license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rusk County a high-income county?
Its $59,944 median ranks 70th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Rusk County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$874 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 20% below.
Does this page cover Ladysmith?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Rusk County, such as Bruce, Hawkins, Sheldon.
Will a Rusk County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Rusk 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.