Vilas County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Vilas 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.
-
C
Vilas County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Vilas County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,038 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,175 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.4% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.1% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Vilas County is about 12% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Vilas County (6.4%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Vilas 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 Vilas County, Wisconsin grew by 60.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,038 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Vilas County
| Metric | Vilas County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.483 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,385 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,404 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.9% | 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 Vilas County, it is 0.483, lower than Wisconsin's 0.503, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $419,335 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Vilas County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 24% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,463 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Vilas County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.3% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 435 people are unemployed in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Vilas County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Vilas County, Wisconsin has fallen from 9.2% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013.
Vilas County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Vilas County, WI is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 23,647 residents against a local median of 14,317. Vilas County, WI's unemployment, at 4.0%, runs 37% above the 2.9% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.4%/yr against a local median of 4.9%/yr, 30% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Vilas County, WI is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.5% on unemployment, so Vilas County, WI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Vilas County, WI has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vilas County, WI | 23,647 | $68,038 #3/6 | 6.4%/yr #1/6 | 4.0% #5/6 | 0.483 #3/6 |
| Oneida County, WI | 38,164 | $68,781 | 4.2%/yr | 2.0% | 0.491 |
| Gogebic County, MI | 14,317 | $52,407 | 4.9%/yr | 6.5% | 0.501 |
| Lincoln County, WI | 28,426 | $70,061 | 3.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.468 |
| Iron County, WI | 6,210 | $60,580 | 5.1%/yr | 2.5% | 0.461 |
| Forest County, WI | 9,369 | $61,492 | 5.0%/yr | 2.9% | 0.501 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Vilas County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Wisconsin, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Vilas County, Wisconsin?
Vilas County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $68,038, about 12% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Vilas County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Vilas County, Wisconsin rose 60%, from $42,480 to $68,038. Over the same years, income here outpaced Wisconsin as a whole: +60% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Vilas County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Vilas County, Wisconsin was $66,796, up 6% from $63,173 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Vilas County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Vilas County, Wisconsin was $50,054. By 2024 it had risen 36% to $68,038.
What is the Gini coefficient in Vilas County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Vilas County is 0.483. 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 Vilas County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Vilas County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 24% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,463 since 2009.
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