1st Advantage MortgageIn Sauk County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $79,541 a year and the typical rent is $1,018. 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
- Who lives in Sauk County
- How Sauk County residents earn a living
- Household income in Sauk County
- Sauk County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Sauk County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Sauk County
- More Sauk County figures
- Reading the Sauk County data as a borrower
- A Sauk County household budget, worked through
- A Sauk County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Sauk County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sauk County's population at 66,009; only 24 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 832 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 79 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Sauk County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 18 Census places inside Sauk County, Baraboo leads by population with about 12,769; 17 of the 18 are incorporated.
How Sauk County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Sauk County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (10% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 5.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Sauk County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.9% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.2% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Sauk County
Half of Sauk County households take in less than $79,541 a year and half take in more, 3% above the Wisconsin median of $77,485. In the state ranking that is 17th of 72.
| Households earning | Sauk County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.4% | -1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.1% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -2.4 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. 8.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.410 here. None of these numbers decides a Sauk County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Sauk County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,018 in Sauk County versus $1,087 statewide. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $258,600, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%.
| Cost | Sauk County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,018/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $258,600 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.8% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Sauk 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.
Sauk County and the counties next door
Richland County is closest, 25 miles from center to center; the sixth, Marquette County, is 38 miles off. Dane County leads the group on income ($89,975), Marquette County trails ($65,681), and Sauk County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauk County | - | $79,541 | $1,018/mo | 72% |
| Richland County, WI | 25 mi | $66,420 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Columbia County, WI | 31 mi | $85,351 | $978/mo | 77% |
| Iowa County, WI | 31 mi | $82,182 | $954/mo | 77% |
| Juneau County, WI | 36 mi | $67,270 | $879/mo | 78% |
| Dane County, WI | 36 mi | $89,975 | $1,398/mo | 57% |
| Marquette County, WI | 38 mi | $65,681 | $800/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Sauk County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Sauk County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 44,115 residents, leaving about 33% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $101,049 at the median in Prairie du Sac, $46,943 in Bluffview. Median rent ranges from $780 in North Freedom to $1,370 in Prairie du Sac. This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo | city | 12,769 | $69,750 | $940 | 11 mi |
| Reedsburg | city | 10,168 | $75,028 | $977 | 8 mi |
| Prairie du Sac | village | 4,382 | $101,049 | $1,370 | 14 mi |
| Sauk City | village | 3,483 | $91,042 | $1,121 | 15 mi |
| Lake Delton | village | 3,482 | $51,964 | $1,006 | 14 mi |
| Wisconsin Dells | city | 2,547 | $54,688 | $971 | 17 mi |
| West Baraboo | village | 1,577 | $60,880 | $1,104 | 9 mi |
| Spring Green | village | 1,397 | $87,344 | $1,133 | 18 mi |
| Plain | village | 780 | $96,000 | $893 | 12 mi |
| North Freedom | village | 716 | $83,750 | $780 | 5 mi |
| Merrimac | village | 570 | $92,417 | $992 | 16 mi |
| Bluffview | CDP | 542 | $46,943 | $963 | 10 mi |
| La Valle | village | 326 | $76,607 | $1,038 | 14 mi |
| Rock Springs | village | 323 | $77,250 | $1,042 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Sauk County figures
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Residents | Sauk County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.3% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Sauk County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Reading the Sauk County data as a borrower
Based on the Sauk County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
A Sauk County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Sauk County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,628 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($1,018)
- $1,368: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,832 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Sauk County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Sauk County:
- Price the Sauk County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sauk County-area credit union.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Consumer lenders serving Sauk County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is 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.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Sauk County?
$79,541 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 17th of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Sauk County?
$1,018 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
I live in a small Sauk County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Baraboo, Reedsburg, Prairie du Sac, Sauk City, Lake Delton and 13 more.
Will a Sauk County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Sauk County check a lender's license?
With the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.