Cost of Living in Brown 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 Brown County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Brown County ranks #2,437 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 22%)
Sourced county brief
Brown County Median Gross Rent Estimated at $1,031 Monthly
The median gross rent in Brown County was estimated at $1,031 per month according to the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $115 above the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $916 per month. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county, as reported in ACS table B25071, is 25.7%. This official percentage is 0.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean GRAPI of 25.3%. For homeowners, the median home value was recorded at $266,000, which is above the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $234,086. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,229, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,072. The median renter-household income for the period was $49,490. 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: Brown County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.7% of renter household income in Brown 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 $1,031 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,229. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,240 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. Brown County's $1,031 median is 12.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Brown County
Rent Burden
15.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,858
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.5%
of gross income
The median home in Brown County may be a stretch
Median home value is $266,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,124 vs. your max of $1,858.
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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