1st Advantage MortgageIn Shawano County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $66,479 a year and the typical rent is $821. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Wisconsin before sharing details.
On this page
- Shawano County at a glance
- Household income in Shawano County
- What it costs to live in Shawano County
- Employment and commuting in Shawano County
- Regional comparison for Shawano County
- Shawano County towns compared
- A Shawano County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Shawano County borrowers
- Shawano County households compared
- Four steps for Shawano County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Shawano County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Shawano County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Shawano County's population at 41,039; only 36 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. It covers 893 square miles of land, or about 46 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Shawano County is not part of any metropolitan area. Shawano is the biggest of its 23 Census places, at roughly 9,522 people (23% of the county total).
Household income in Shawano County
At $66,479, the typical Shawano County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Shawano County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.4% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -4.3 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 11.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.430 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Shawano County
A typical Shawano County rental runs $821 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Wisconsin. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $194,000, a typical Shawano County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Shawano County households own their home and 22% rent.
| Cost | Shawano County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $821/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,000 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Shawano County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Shawano County residents work in manufacturing and 20% in education and health care. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Shawano County. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Shawano County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.5% | +4.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Shawano County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Shawano County
Menominee County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Portage County, is 42 miles off. Income ranges from $55,878 in Langlade County to $85,069 in Outagamie County; 4 of these neighbors top Shawano County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano County | - | $66,479 | $821/mo | 78% |
| Menominee County, WI | 15 mi | $62,108 | $626/mo | 76% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 24 mi | $72,830 | $852/mo | 75% |
| Outagamie County, WI | 29 mi | $85,069 | $1,057/mo | 71% |
| Oconto County, WI | 30 mi | $75,049 | $791/mo | 85% |
| Langlade County, WI | 36 mi | $55,878 | $702/mo | 77% |
| Portage County, WI | 42 mi | $76,070 | $940/mo | 70% |
Shawano County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 23 Census places in Shawano County, by population. Together all 23 hold about 18,507 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Birnamwood has the highest median household income on the list ($63,750) and Wittenberg the lowest ($52,821), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Birnamwood ($550) and steepest in Tigerton ($965). No Shawano County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 23.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano | city | 9,522 | $57,490 | $819 | 8 mi |
| Bonduel | village | 1,535 | $63,672 | $734 | 15 mi |
| Marion | city | 1,238 | $60,521 | $754 | 11 mi |
| Wittenberg | village | 1,027 | $52,821 | $701 | 20 mi |
| Tigerton | village | 762 | $59,311 | $965 | 15 mi |
| Birnamwood | village | 643 | $63,750 | $550 | 24 mi |
| Gresham | village | 570 | $55,625 | $800 | 4 mi |
| Cecil | village | 466 | $76,458 | $991 | 15 mi |
| Mattoon | village | 457 | $68,750 | $960 | 20 mi |
| Caroline | CDP | 426 | $74,803 | $1,625 | 8 mi |
| Bowler | village | 316 | $53,750 | $814 | 12 mi |
| Krakow | CDP | 301 | $80,000 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Aniwa | village | 245 | $50,417 | $481 | 27 mi |
| Eland | village | 169 | $66,250 | n/a | 23 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
A Shawano County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Shawano County's medians:
- $5,540 a month: gross income for a household at the Shawano County median
- Less median rent of $821, which is 15% of it
- $1,118: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,493 total minus rent leaves $1,672
If your rent is above $821, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Shawano County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Shawano County borrowers.
- Fixed incomes. Shawano County's median age is 45.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Shawano County borrower sees (free reports).
Shawano County households compared
19% of Shawano County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Measure | Shawano County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Four steps for Shawano County borrowers
A short checklist for Shawano County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Shawano County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Shawano County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shawano County a high-income county?
Its $66,479 median ranks 54th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Shawano County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$821 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 24% below.
I own my home in Shawano County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Shawano County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 23 Census places: Shawano, Bonduel, Marion, Wittenberg, Tigerton.
Can Shawano 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.