1st Advantage MortgageWalworth County households have a median income of $80,520 and median rent of $1,150 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Walworth County
- Income in Walworth County compared with Wisconsin
- What it costs to live in Walworth County
- The Walworth County job picture
- Walworth County towns compared
- The counties around Walworth County
- Debt-to-income at Walworth County's medians
- People and households in Walworth County
- Local borrowing considerations for Walworth County
- Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
- Checklist for Walworth County applicants
- More guides for Walworth County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Walworth County
Roughly 105,657 residents live in Walworth County, Wisconsin, 15th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 555 square miles, that is close to 190 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Walworth County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 23 Census places inside Walworth County, Burlington leads by population with about 10,987; 12 of the 23 are incorporated.
Income in Walworth County compared with Wisconsin
At $80,520, the typical Walworth County household income is 23% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Walworth County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.2% | -2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.1% | +1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Walworth County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. 9.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.452 here. A household earning below the $80,520 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Walworth County
Renters in Walworth County pay a median of $1,150 a month, 6% above the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $302,700, a typical Walworth County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Home costs | Walworth County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,150/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $302,700 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 11% | n/a |
The Walworth County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (10% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Walworth County | Gap to Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Walworth County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Walworth County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 23 Census places in Walworth County, by population. Together all 23 hold about 71,291 people, so roughly 33% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $112,639 at the median in Lyons, $63,194 in Darien. Rent is cheapest in Williams Bay ($900) and steepest in Lyons ($1,630). Live in one of these Walworth County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | city | 10,987 | $83,419 | $999 | 14 mi |
| Elkhorn | city | 10,221 | $77,649 | $1,034 | 0 mi |
| Delavan | city | 8,689 | $65,357 | $1,094 | 5 mi |
| Lake Geneva | city | 8,521 | $75,629 | $1,389 | 8 mi |
| East Troy | village | 4,978 | $79,669 | $1,436 | 11 mi |
| Bloomfield | village | 4,780 | $98,068 | $1,265 | 13 mi |
| Williams Bay | village | 2,981 | $84,113 | $900 | 6 mi |
| Genoa City | village | 2,942 | $81,213 | $1,181 | 16 mi |
| Walworth | village | 2,759 | $70,208 | $968 | 10 mi |
| Delavan Lake | CDP | 2,757 | $83,550 | $913 | 6 mi |
| Como | CDP | 2,197 | $75,266 | $1,543 | 5 mi |
| Fontana-on-Geneva Lake | village | 1,737 | $106,750 | $1,149 | 9 mi |
| Sharon | village | 1,592 | $67,500 | $1,072 | 15 mi |
| Lauderdale Lakes | CDP | 1,469 | $74,313 | n/a | 7 mi |
The counties around Walworth County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Walworth County's, from 24 to 34 miles away. Income ranges from $75,673 in Rock County to $106,076 in Waukesha County; 5 of these neighbors top Walworth County's median. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walworth County | - | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| McHenry County, IL | 24 mi | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 27 mi | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 27 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Rock County, WI | 27 mi | $75,673 | $1,037/mo | 71% |
| Boone County, IL | 28 mi | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
| Kenosha County, WI | 34 mi | $81,239 | $1,219/mo | 67% |
Debt-to-income at Walworth County's medians
How much room does a median Walworth County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $80,520 a year is $6,710 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,150, which is 17% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,735 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Walworth County
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Walworth County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.4% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Walworth County
A few patterns in the Walworth County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Walworth County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Walworth County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Checking a lender's license in Wisconsin
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Walworth County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Checklist for Walworth County applicants
Quick steps for Walworth County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Wisconsin borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Walworth County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Walworth County a high-income county?
Its $80,520 median ranks 15th of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Walworth County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,150 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Walworth County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Walworth County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 23 Census places: Burlington, Elkhorn, Delavan, Lake Geneva, East Troy.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Walworth County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.