1st Advantage MortgageThe median Trempealeau County household earns $76,313, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Trempealeau County
- How much Trempealeau County households make
- The Trempealeau County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Trempealeau County
- The communities that make up Trempealeau County
- How Trempealeau County compares with nearby counties
- A Trempealeau County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Trempealeau County borrowers
- People and households in Trempealeau County
- Four steps for Trempealeau County borrowers
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Trempealeau County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County is home to about 30,839 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 43rd most populous of 72 county-level areas in Wisconsin. Land area is 733 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 42 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Trempealeau County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Trempealeau County, Arcadia leads by population with about 3,806; 11 of the 12 are incorporated.
How much Trempealeau County households make
Half of Trempealeau County households take in less than $76,313 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485. That places it 22nd among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Trempealeau County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.5% | -0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.5 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 9.9%, 1 point lower than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.401 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Trempealeau County median.
The Trempealeau County job picture
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 18% for Wisconsin. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Trempealeau County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (6.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Trempealeau County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.1% | +8.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.8% | +4.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.4% | +0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Trempealeau County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Trempealeau County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $949 in Trempealeau County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,700, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Housing | Trempealeau County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $949/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,700 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Trempealeau 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.
The communities that make up Trempealeau County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Trempealeau County residents live in one of the 12. Incomes vary by place: $81,250 at the median in Ettrick, $58,000 in Independence. Rent is cheapest in Ettrick ($508) and steepest in Trempealeau ($1,179). Live in one of these Trempealeau County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | city | 3,806 | $74,531 | $1,096 | 8 mi |
| Trempealeau | village | 1,864 | $79,254 | $1,179 | 21 mi |
| Galesville | city | 1,742 | $71,429 | $959 | 15 mi |
| Osseo | city | 1,687 | $59,548 | $871 | 20 mi |
| Whitehall | city | 1,555 | $61,875 | $829 | 4 mi |
| Independence | city | 1,462 | $58,000 | $911 | 3 mi |
| Blair | city | 1,254 | $60,446 | $827 | 3 mi |
| Strum | village | 1,064 | $68,958 | $823 | 17 mi |
| Eleva | village | 747 | $65,000 | $675 | 20 mi |
| Ettrick | village | 601 | $81,250 | $508 | 10 mi |
| Pigeon Falls | village | 368 | $79,500 | $844 | 11 mi |
| Dodge | CDP | 207 | $53,190 | $788 | 15 mi |
How Trempealeau County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Trempealeau County's, from 21 to 32 miles away. Pepin County leads the group on income ($75,256), Jackson County trails ($68,110), and Trempealeau County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau County | - | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
| Buffalo County, WI | 21 mi | $70,479 | $876/mo | 78% |
| Jackson County, WI | 28 mi | $68,110 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Eau Claire County, WI | 29 mi | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 30 mi | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Winona County, MN | 30 mi | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
| Pepin County, WI | 32 mi | $75,256 | $869/mo | 83% |
A Trempealeau County household budget, worked through
Trempealeau County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $76,313 a year is $6,359 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $949, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,340 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.
What the numbers mean for Trempealeau County borrowers
Based on the Trempealeau County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
People and households in Trempealeau County
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.7%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| People and households | Trempealeau County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.7% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Four steps for Trempealeau County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Wisconsin.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Wisconsin rules that apply in Trempealeau County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Trempealeau County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trempealeau County a high-income county?
Its $76,313 median ranks 22nd of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Trempealeau County?
$949 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Trempealeau County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Trempealeau County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Trempealeau County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Arcadia, Trempealeau, Galesville, Osseo, Whitehall.
Is the fit check different in Trempealeau County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.