1st Advantage MortgageThe median Vernon County household earns $71,893, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- 31,049 residents: Vernon County basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Vernon County
- Work, industries and travel time in Vernon County
- How Vernon County ranks in Wisconsin
- Income in Vernon County compared with Wisconsin
- Towns and communities in Vernon County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Local borrowing considerations for Vernon County
- Debt-to-income, Vernon County edition
- Vernon County households compared
- Licensing and complaints for Vernon County
- Before you sign
- Other Wisconsin guides
- Frequently asked questions
31,049 residents: Vernon County basics
With an estimated 31,049 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Vernon County ranks 42nd of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Vernon County spans 792 square miles; with 31,049 people, that is 39.2 per square mile. Vernon County counts toward the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN include it. Viroqua is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 4,471 people (14% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Vernon County
Vernon County rent at the median: $836 a month, utilities in ($1,087 in Wisconsin). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 35% of renter households here. Median value $223,800; median income $71,893; ratio 3.1. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Median construction year: 1974. Nationally, Vernon County's $836 rent is 5% below the middle county.
| Housing | Vernon County | Wisconsin statewide | Vernon County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 80% | 68% | +12.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 44% | -8.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 9.4% | 3.1% | +6.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | +3.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $836/mo | $1,087/mo | 23% lower |
| Median home value | $223,800 | $266,500 | 16% lower |
In an owner-heavy county like Vernon 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Vernon County
Education and health care (27%), manufacturing (14%) and retail trade (11%) lead Vernon County's job mix. Relative to Wisconsin (2%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 4 points bigger in Vernon County (6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Vernon County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 14%; under 15 minutes: 33%. 9.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Vernon County share | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.0% | -3.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Vernon County ranks in Wisconsin
Ranked against the other 71 county-level areas in Wisconsin, these are the Vernon County figures furthest from the middle.
- Vernon County ranks 3rd highest of 72 Wisconsin counties for the uninsured rate: 15.0%, against 5.2% statewide. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- On households without a vehicle, Vernon County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 9.1%, 3rd highest of 72. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Few Wisconsin counties match Vernon County on the share of mobile homes: 9.4% here, 3.1% for the state, ranking 8th highest of 72. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
Income in Vernon County compared with Wisconsin
Median household income in Vernon County: $71,893 (7% below Wisconsin, $77,485). In the state ranking that is 38th of 72.
| Household income | Vernon County | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -3.2 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. Poverty rate, Vernon County: 13.1%; Wisconsin: 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.425 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Vernon 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.
Towns and communities in Vernon County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 40% of Vernon County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,042 in La Farge to $88,214 in Viola. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viroqua | city | 4,471 | $67,438 | $815 | 4 mi |
| Westby | city | 2,432 | $72,875 | $993 | 4 mi |
| Hillsboro | city | 1,353 | $60,000 | $805 | 25 mi |
| Coon Valley | village | 857 | $73,929 | $950 | 12 mi |
| Stoddard | village | 823 | $64,018 | $643 | 20 mi |
| La Farge | village | 575 | $46,042 | $740 | 9 mi |
| Viola | village | 551 | $88,214 | $1,051 | 10 mi |
| Ontario | village | 422 | $50,250 | $748 | 14 mi |
| Readstown | village | 381 | $36,875 | $671 | 11 mi |
| Chaseburg | village | 304 | $88,750 | $735 | 14 mi |
| Genoa | village | 273 | $58,750 | $850 | 20 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Vernon County's, from 25 to 36 miles away. Vernon County's $71,893 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $64,094 (Crawford County) to $79,825 (Houston County). The list crosses into Iowa, Minnesota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon County | - | $71,893 | $836/mo | 80% |
| Richland County, WI | 25 mi | $66,420 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Crawford County, WI | 25 mi | $64,094 | $789/mo | 77% |
| La Crosse County, WI | 26 mi | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Monroe County, WI | 26 mi | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
| Houston County, MN | 34 mi | $79,825 | $879/mo | 83% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 36 mi | $70,694 | $796/mo | 80% |
Local borrowing considerations for Vernon County
Based on the Vernon County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 15% of Vernon County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income, Vernon County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Vernon County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,991 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $836, takes 14% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,560 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $836, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Vernon County households compared
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25% of Vernon County adults. 15.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Vernon County | Gap to Wisconsin | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance | 15.0% | +9.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | -8.5 pts | +2.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | +3.2 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 9.1% | +2.7 pts | +3.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | +2.5 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Median age | 41.9 | +1.7 yrs | +0.4 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | -0.8 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Work from home | 12.7% | -0.4 pts | +4.0 pts |
| Minutes to work | Vernon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Licensing and complaints for Vernon County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Vernon County, check the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Wisconsin page has statewide figures to set beside Vernon County's.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Vernon County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Other Wisconsin guides
Next step up from Vernon County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Vernon County a high-income county?
Its $71,893 median ranks 38th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Vernon County?
$836 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Vernon County?
By population: Viroqua, Westby, Hillsboro, Coon Valley, Stoddard. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Can Vernon 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.
Is there a Vernon County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Wisconsin it is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.