Cost of Living in Barron County, Wisconsin
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Barron County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Barron County ranks #1,844 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 41%)
Sourced county brief
Barron County Official GRAPI Reaches 27.9 Percent
Barron County's official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 27.9%. This official B25071 figure is 2.6 percentage points higher than the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of 25.3%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $879 per month, which is $37 below the state's unweighted county mean of $916. For homeowners, the median home value was $216,600, compared to the unweighted state county mean of $234,086. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $955, while the unweighted state county mean was $1,072. Renter households had a median income of $41,111. All figures represent a snapshot from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Barron County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.9% of renter household income in Barron County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $879 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $955. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $35,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Wisconsin unweighted mean of county median rents is $916 per month. Barron County's $879 median is 4.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Barron County
Rent Burden
16.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,538
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.4%
of gross income
The median home in Barron County may be a stretch
Median home value is $216,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,729 vs. your max of $1,538.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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