1st Advantage MortgageWinnebago County (171,769 residents) has a $74,925 median household income and $965 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. 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 Winnebago County
- Winnebago County housing compared with Wisconsin
- Winnebago County against other Wisconsin counties
- Earnings across Winnebago County households
- Jobs and commutes in Winnebago County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Winnebago County towns compared
- People and households in Winnebago County
- Before borrowing in Winnebago County
- Budget math at the Winnebago County median
- Licensing and complaints for Winnebago County
- Four steps for Winnebago County borrowers
- More guides for Winnebago County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Winnebago County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Winnebago County's population at 171,769; only 6 of Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 435 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 395 per square mile. Winnebago County counts toward the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Oshkosh-Neenah, WI include it. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (5 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Oshkosh, with about 66,729 residents, or 39% of the county.
Winnebago County housing compared with Wisconsin
Renters in Winnebago County pay a median of $965 a month, 11% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $225,800, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 66%. Against the median U.S. county, Winnebago County rent is 10% above.
| Cost | Winnebago County | Wisconsin figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 18% | 22% | -4.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 44% | -2.5 pts |
| Owners | 66% | 68% | -2.1 pts |
| Median home value | $225,800 | $266,500 | 15% lower |
| Median gross rent | $965/mo | $1,087/mo | 11% lower |
Winnebago County against other Wisconsin counties
The 4 Winnebago County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Wisconsin, and what each means for a borrower:
- Winnebago County ranks 5th lowest of 72 Wisconsin counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 2.2%, against 3.2% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 6% in Winnebago County. Only 3 of 72 Wisconsin counties are lower. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
- Homeownership: 66% in Winnebago County. Only 4 of 72 Wisconsin counties are lower. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- On population, Winnebago County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 171,769, 7th highest of 72. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
Earnings across Winnebago County households
Winnebago County households have a median income of $74,925 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 29th of 72 in Wisconsin.
| Band | Winnebago County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | +0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.7 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). Winnebago County scores 0.424 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Winnebago County median.
Jobs and commutes in Winnebago County
Manufacturing (25%), education and health care (20%) and retail trade (12%) lead Winnebago County's job mix. Winnebago County over-indexes on manufacturing: 25% versus 18% in Wisconsin. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 6%; under 15 minutes: 41%. 3,968 Winnebago County households, 5.5%, have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Winnebago County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.6% | +6.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.3% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Calumet County at 23 miles out to Waupaca County at 31. Calumet County leads the group on income ($88,810), Waushara County trails ($67,107), and Winnebago County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | - | $74,925 | $965/mo | 66% |
| Calumet County, WI | 23 mi | $88,810 | $1,073/mo | 80% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 24 mi | $74,275 | $960/mo | 71% |
| Outagamie County, WI | 25 mi | $85,069 | $1,057/mo | 71% |
| Green Lake County, WI | 26 mi | $68,196 | $818/mo | 74% |
| Waushara County, WI | 28 mi | $67,107 | $796/mo | 84% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 31 mi | $72,830 | $852/mo | 75% |
Winnebago County towns compared
121,474 of Winnebago County's 171,769 residents live in its 9 Census places (71%); the 9 largest are listed. Butte des Morts ($121,667) and Omro ($62,000) mark the top and bottom of Winnebago County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Winneconne ($852) and steepest in Butte des Morts ($1,185). Oshkosh and every other Winnebago County community use this county guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh | city | 66,729 | $62,188 | $935 | 7 mi |
| Neenah | city | 27,336 | $75,374 | $1,006 | 11 mi |
| Fox Crossing | village | 19,131 | $79,187 | $1,009 | 13 mi |
| Omro | city | 3,642 | $62,000 | $865 | 5 mi |
| Winneconne | village | 2,511 | $82,411 | $852 | 3 mi |
| Butte des Morts | CDP | 1,064 | $121,667 | $1,185 | 2 mi |
| Winchester | CDP | 569 | $88,190 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Waukau | CDP | 325 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Eureka | CDP | 167 | $54,500 | $1,083 | 10 mi |
People and households in Winnebago County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31% of Winnebago County adults. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 5.2% for Wisconsin.
| People and households | Winnebago County | Compared with Wisconsin | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | -1.5 yrs | -2.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.1% | -2.3 pts | +9.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | -0.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | -0.7 pts | -3.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | -0.9 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Work from home | 11.5% | -1.6 pts | +2.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | +0.8 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | -1.1 pts | -2.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Before borrowing in Winnebago County
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Winnebago County borrower sees (free reports).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Budget math at the Winnebago County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Winnebago County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,244 gross per month ($74,925 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($965)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,498 total minus rent leaves $1,532
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Winnebago County's.
Licensing and complaints for Winnebago County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Winnebago 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.
Four steps for Winnebago County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Winnebago County
The Wisconsin guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Winnebago County household make?
About $74,925 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Wisconsin median.
Can a Winnebago County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $965 median rent and $6,244 median monthly income, rent alone uses 15%; add other debts before a new payment.
What are the biggest places in Winnebago County?
By population: Oshkosh, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Omro, Winneconne. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Winnebago County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Winnebago County residents?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Wisconsin; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.