Forest County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Forest County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Forest County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Wisconsin
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Forest County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,492 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,320 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.5% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.8% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Forest County is about 21% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Forest County (5.0%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Forest County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Forest County, Wisconsin grew by 67.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,492 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Forest County
| Metric | Forest County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,705 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,610 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.5% | 19.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Forest County, it is 0.501, about the same as Wisconsin's 0.503, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Forest County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $178,325 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forest County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 22% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,882 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Forest County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.0% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 111 people are unemployed in Forest County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Forest County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Forest County, Wisconsin has fallen from 8.0% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.1% in 2015.
Forest County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Forest County, WI is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 9,369 residents against a local median of 11,667. Forest County, WI's unemployment, at 2.9%, runs 40% below the 4.8% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.0%/yr against a local median of 4.2%/yr, 20% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Forest County, WI is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 8.0% on unemployment, so Forest County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Forest County, WI has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County, WI | 9,369 | $61,492 #4/6 | 5.0%/yr #3/6 | 2.9% #2/6 | 0.501 #4/6 |
| Florence County, WI | 4,646 | $61,884 | 3.6%/yr | 4.8% | 0.479 |
| Langlade County, WI | 19,490 | $56,929 | 3.4%/yr | 3.5% | 0.496 |
| Iron County, MI | 11,667 | $56,137 | 6.8%/yr | 5.4% | 0.511 |
| Menominee County, WI | 4,252 | $64,606 | 7.8%/yr | 10.0% | 0.537 |
| Oneida County, WI | 38,164 | $68,781 | 4.2%/yr | 2.0% | 0.491 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Forest County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Wisconsin, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Forest County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Forest County, Wisconsin?
Forest County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,492, about 21% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Forest County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Forest County, Wisconsin rose 68%, from $36,633 to $61,492. Over the same years, income here outpaced Wisconsin as a whole: +68% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Forest County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Forest County, Wisconsin was $59,677, up 6% from $56,290 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Forest County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Forest County, Wisconsin was $48,382. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $61,492.
What is the Gini coefficient in Forest County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Forest County is 0.501. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Forest County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Forest County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 22% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 8% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,882 since 2009.
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