Portage County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Portage 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.
-
B
Portage County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,397 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,136 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.8% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.0% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Portage County is about 2% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Portage County (4.7%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Portage 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 Portage County, Wisconsin grew by 49.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,397 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Portage County
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.502 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,595 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,438 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.4% | 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 Portage County, it is 0.502, 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 26% more than women's income in Portage County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $460,495 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Portage County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 27% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $832 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Portage County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.6% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 1,255 people are unemployed in Portage County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Portage County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Portage County, Wisconsin has fallen from 6.7% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2023.
Portage County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Portage County, WI is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 70,832 residents against a local median of 51,567. Where Portage County, WI breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 18% below the local median of 3.9% at 3.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Portage County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Portage County, WI has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage County, WI | 70,832 | $76,397 #2/6 | 4.7%/yr #2/6 | 3.2% #3/6 | 0.502 #4/6 |
| Waushara County, WI | 24,869 | $67,446 | 4.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.505 |
| Marathon County, WI | 138,251 | $78,153 | 4.6%/yr | 2.9% | 0.474 |
| Waupaca County, WI | 51,567 | $73,318 | 4.2%/yr | 2.8% | 0.476 |
| Wood County, WI | 74,006 | $66,853 | 3.7%/yr | 4.0% | 0.476 |
| Adams County, WI | 21,114 | $59,459 | 4.0%/yr | 4.5% | 0.514 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Portage County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Wisconsin, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Portage County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Portage County, Wisconsin?
Portage County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $76,397, about 2% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Portage County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Portage County, Wisconsin rose 49%, from $51,105 to $76,397. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Wisconsin as a whole: +49% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Portage County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Portage County, Wisconsin was $73,495, up 3% from $71,579 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Portage County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Portage County, Wisconsin was $60,415. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $76,397.
What is the Gini coefficient in Portage County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Portage County is 0.502. 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 Portage County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Portage County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 27% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $832 since 2009.
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