1st Advantage MortgageWashburn County households have a median income of $63,441 and median rent of $795 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Washburn County
- How much Washburn County households make
- How Washburn County residents earn a living
- Washburn County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Washburn County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Washburn County
- What a median Washburn County budget can carry
- Washburn County households compared
- Reading the Washburn County data as a borrower
- A Washburn County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Washburn County residents
- More guides for Washburn County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Washburn County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Washburn County's population at 16,854; only 59 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 797 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Washburn County is not part of any metropolitan area. Spooner is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 2,278 people (14% of the county total).
How much Washburn County households make
Washburn County households have a median income of $63,441 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 61st of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Income band | Share in Washburn County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.7 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.5% of Washburn County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Wisconsin. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. None of these numbers decides a Washburn County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Washburn County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Washburn County residents work in education and health care and 18% in manufacturing. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward retail trade (13% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Washburn County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Washburn County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.4% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -2.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Washburn County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $795 in Washburn County versus $1,087 statewide. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. With a median value of $226,100, a typical Washburn County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median year built is 1982.
| Housing | Washburn County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $795/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $226,100 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 3.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 41% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Washburn County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Washburn County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 43 miles). Income ranges from $59,944 in Rusk County to $77,219 in Polk County; 3 of these neighbors top Washburn County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn County | - | $63,441 | $795/mo | 82% |
| Burnett County, WI | 28 mi | $62,819 | $771/mo | 86% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 31 mi | $60,801 | $712/mo | 77% |
| Barron County, WI | 32 mi | $65,933 | $879/mo | 77% |
| Douglas County, WI | 40 mi | $75,099 | $909/mo | 72% |
| Rusk County, WI | 43 mi | $59,944 | $874/mo | 78% |
| Polk County, WI | 43 mi | $77,219 | $957/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Washburn County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Washburn County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 5,212 residents, leaving about 69% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Shell Lake has the highest median household income on the list ($57,500) and Minong the lowest ($31,875), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Washburn County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spooner | city | 2,278 | $44,737 | $763 | 6 mi |
| Shell Lake | city | 1,459 | $57,500 | $450 | 13 mi |
| Minong | village | 678 | $31,875 | $763 | 14 mi |
| Birchwood | village | 451 | $54,091 | $594 | 20 mi |
| Trego | CDP | 142 | $51,250 | $817 | 2 mi |
| Stone Lake | CDP | 127 | $43,393 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Springbrook | CDP | 77 | $44,375 | n/a | 6 mi |
What a median Washburn County budget can carry
How much room does a median Washburn County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $63,441 a year is $5,287 of gross monthly income
- 15% goes to median rent ($795)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,478 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Washburn County households compared
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| Residents | Washburn County | Wisconsin | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.5% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Washburn County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.3% |
Reading the Washburn County data as a borrower
What the Washburn County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Washburn County's median age is 52.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Washburn County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Washburn County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Wisconsin license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Washburn County residents
Consumer lenders serving Washburn County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is 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.
More guides for Washburn County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Washburn County?
$63,441 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 61st of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Washburn County?
$795 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Washburn County?
By population: Spooner, Shell Lake, Minong, Birchwood, Trego. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Washburn County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Washburn 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.