Cost of Living in Forest 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 Forest County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Forest County ranks #557 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 18%)
Sourced county brief
Forest County Median Gross Rent Stays Below $600
Forest County’s median gross rent was estimated at $594 per month. This is $322 lower than the Wisconsin unweighted county mean of $916. The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI), serving as the canonical rentToIncomePct, was 19.8%. This value is 5.5 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 25.3%. The median home value in the county was $185,000, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $234,086. Median selected monthly owner costs were $773, which is below the state unweighted mean of $1,072. Renter-household median income was $35,000, while the median household income for all residents was $61,071. These figures offer a statistical snapshot from the 2020-2024 5-year estimates and are not intended for use in making relocation or investment decisions. 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: Forest County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.8% of renter household income in Forest 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 $594 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $773. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $23,760 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. Forest County's $594 median is 35.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Forest County
Rent Burden
11.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,425
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.2%
of gross income
The median home in Forest County may be a stretch
Median home value is $185,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,477 vs. your max of $1,425.
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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