1st Advantage MortgageThe median Waushara County household earns $67,107, and 11% 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
- Who lives in Waushara County
- Work, industries and travel time in Waushara County
- How much Waushara County households make
- What it costs to live in Waushara County
- Waushara County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Waushara County
- People and households in Waushara County
- Before borrowing in Waushara County
- Debt-to-income at Waushara County's medians
- Lender oversight for Waushara County
- Steps before you apply in Waushara County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Waushara County
Roughly 24,868 residents live in Waushara County, Wisconsin, 47th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 626 square miles of land, or about 40 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Waushara County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (7 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Redgranite, with about 1,938 residents, or 8% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Waushara County
The biggest employer of Waushara County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 18% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Waushara County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.8% | +4.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.4% | -4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | +4.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Waushara County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Waushara County households make
Waushara County households have a median income of $67,107 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 52nd of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Households earning | Waushara County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -3.9 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 10.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). A household earning below the $67,107 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 Waushara County
Renters in Waushara County pay a median of $796 a month, 27% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. By the Census definition, 40% of Waushara County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $203,100, a typical Waushara County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 84% of homes. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Waushara County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $796/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $203,100 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 29% | 11% | n/a |
Because most Waushara 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.
Waushara County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Waushara County's, from 22 to 29 miles away. Portage County leads the group on income ($76,070), Adams County trails ($59,442), and Waushara County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara County | - | $67,107 | $796/mo | 84% |
| Marquette County, WI | 22 mi | $65,681 | $800/mo | 81% |
| Green Lake County, WI | 27 mi | $68,196 | $818/mo | 74% |
| Adams County, WI | 28 mi | $59,442 | $828/mo | 86% |
| Portage County, WI | 28 mi | $76,070 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 28 mi | $74,925 | $965/mo | 66% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 29 mi | $72,830 | $852/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Waushara County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 32% of Waushara County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $75,000 at the median in Coloma, $32,361 in Wautoma. Rent is cheapest in Plainfield ($741) and steepest in Coloma ($871). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redgranite | village | 1,938 | $64,345 | $760 | 7 mi |
| Wautoma | city | 1,817 | $32,361 | $801 | 4 mi |
| Plainfield | village | 1,094 | $60,375 | $741 | 15 mi |
| Wild Rose | village | 903 | $48,750 | $847 | 5 mi |
| Coloma | village | 549 | $75,000 | $871 | 15 mi |
| Hancock | village | 471 | $51,071 | $695 | 14 mi |
| Lohrville | village | 457 | $61,964 | $841 | 8 mi |
| Poy Sippi | CDP | 433 | $52,750 | $515 | 12 mi |
| Pine River | CDP | 106 | $42,917 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Tustin | CDP | 68 | $42,708 | n/a | 17 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
People and households in Waushara County
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Waushara County | Wisconsin | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.7% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Before borrowing in Waushara County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Waushara County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Waushara County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.2, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Waushara County's medians
How much room does a median Waushara County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,592 before taxes
- Less median rent of $796, which is 14% of it
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,161 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,721: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Waushara County's.
Lender oversight for Waushara County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Waushara County resident can confirm its license with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Wisconsin state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Waushara County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Waushara County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Waushara County?
$67,107 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 52nd of 72 in the state.
What do renters pay in Waushara County?
$796 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Waushara County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Waushara County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Waushara County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Redgranite, Wautoma, Plainfield, Wild Rose, Coloma and 5 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Waushara County or elsewhere in Wisconsin, the same rules apply.