Wisconsin · GEOID 55123

Vernon County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 31,049 · 14,065 housing units

Median household income

$71,893

State $78,421

Median home value

$223,800

State $270,495

Median gross rent

$836

State $1,096

Homeownership rate

80.3%

State 67.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

35.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.3%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.3%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.11

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Vernon County	Wisconsin
Population	31,049	5,914,872
Population density (per sq. mi.)	39.22	—
Median household income	$71,893	$78,421
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$94,900	—
Households	12,424	—
Average household size	2.46 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.3%	67.8%
Renter-occupied	19.7%	32.2%
Race	94.5% White · 0.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Vernon County compared with Wisconsin.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

24.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.0%	$53,264	$1,332	$167,247
1 earner	28.1%	$61,492	$1,537	$197,875
2 earners	43.5%	$111,777	$2,794	$385,052
3+ earners	11.3%	$135,833	$3,396	$474,597

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

12,424

Average size: 2.46 people

Households with children

3,115

25.1% of households

Per-capita income

$36,396

Poverty rate: 9.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.3% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 81.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 6.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

57.9% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,974.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $223,800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $836.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,641 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.4% · For rent 8.3% · Seasonal 61.2% · Other 24.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

13.9% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 86.1% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

7.1%

1,005 units of 14,065 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.9%

408 units of 14,065 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$57,514

100% MHI$71,893

120% MHI$86,272

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Vernon County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$53,800	$61,450	$76,800
100% AMI	$66,430	$75,920	$94,900
120% AMI	$79,700	$91,100	$113,900

HUD FMR Area: Vernon County, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

35.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (15.5% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.3% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Vernon County.

Covered employment

8,018

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

775

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$45,399

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	1,742	$53,026	$166,361	−$57,439	$1,326
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,262	$31,287	$85,441	−$138,359	$782
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	867	$40,030	$117,986	−$105,814	$1,001
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	840	$61,169	$196,672	−$27,128	$1,529
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	732	$15,320	$26,007	−$197,793	$383
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	613	$38,319	$111,617	−$112,183	$958
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	454	$54,199	$170,728	−$53,072	$1,355
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	314	$59,257	$189,555	−$34,245	$1,481
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	310	$59,218	$189,410	−$34,390	$1,480
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	252	$64,528	$209,176	−$14,624	$1,613
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	173	$61,812	$199,066	−$24,734	$1,545
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	143	$31,171	$85,010	−$138,790	$779
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	140	$78,087	$259,647	+$35,847	$1,952
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	64	$74,069	$244,690	+$20,890	$1,852
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	63	$31,638	$86,748	−$137,052	$791
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	49	$14,537	$23,092	−$200,708	$363

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	867	$40,030	$117,986	−$105,814	$1,001
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	696	$15,352	$26,126	−$197,674	$384
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	395	$45,922	$139,918	−$83,882	$1,148
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	335	$23,709	$57,233	−$166,567	$593
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	332	$53,907	$169,641	−$54,159	$1,348
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	327	$28,243	$74,111	−$149,689	$706
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	255	$58,445	$186,533	−$37,267	$1,461
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	244	$21,308	$48,296	−$175,504	$533
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	233	$28,907	$76,582	−$147,218	$723
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	204	$32,656	$90,537	−$133,263	$816
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	174	$56,721	$180,115	−$43,685	$1,418
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	173	$61,812	$199,066	−$24,734	$1,545
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	146	$67,058	$218,593	−$5,207	$1,676
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	142	$38,439	$112,063	−$111,737	$961
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	120	$59,115	$189,027	−$34,773	$1,478
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	95	$59,790	$191,539	−$32,261	$1,495
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	85	$61,565	$198,146	−$25,654	$1,539
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	76	$47,634	$146,290	−$77,510	$1,191
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	69	$80,069	$267,024	+$43,224	$2,002
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	64	$74,069	$244,690	+$20,890	$1,852
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	62	$55,032	$173,828	−$49,972	$1,376
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	57	$26,833	$68,862	−$154,938	$671
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	56	$58,753	$187,679	−$36,121	$1,469
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	46	$67,153	$218,947	−$4,853	$1,679
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	46	$23,443	$56,243	−$167,557	$586
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	43	$30,348	$81,946	−$141,854	$759
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	36	$14,702	$23,706	−$200,094	$368
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	33	$55,785	$176,631	−$47,169	$1,395
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	22	$82,532	$276,193	+$52,393	$2,063
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	20	$74,719	$247,110	+$23,310	$1,868
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	19	$64,506	$209,094	−$14,706	$1,613

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,960	260	15%	$13.72	$28,540	$75,216	$714
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,020	290	17%	$15.31	$31,850	$87,537	$796
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	330	(180)	(35%)	$15.66	$32,570	$90,217	$814
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,270	(370)	(23%)	$15.76	$32,770	$90,962	$819
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,290	(560)	(20%)	$17.09	$35,540	$101,272	$889
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,530	580	61%	$18.14	$37,740	$109,462	$944
Tellers SOC 43-3071	320	(10)	(3%)	$19.91	$41,410	$123,123	$1,035
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,250	(680)	(35%)	$20.54	$42,720	$127,999	$1,068
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,500	(330)	(18%)	$21.35	$44,410	$134,290	$1,110
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	250	10	4%	$21.63	$44,990	$136,449	$1,125
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	920	200	28%	$25.88	$53,820	$169,317	$1,346
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	610	220	56%	$27.61	$57,440	$182,792	$1,436
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	450	30	7%	$29.92	$62,240	$200,659	$1,556
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	50	(50)	(50%)	$30.00	$62,390	$201,217	$1,560
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,100	710	51%	$30.45	$63,330	$204,716	$1,583
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	710	(10)	(1%)	—	$64,460	$208,922	$1,612
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	290	90	45%	$33.20	$69,060	$226,045	$1,727
Electricians SOC 47-2111	320	50	19%	$37.35	$77,680	$258,132	$1,942
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	280	130	87%	$39.49	$82,140	$274,733	$2,054
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,920	(840)	(22%)	$45.89	$95,460	$324,315	$2,387

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 55123 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.