Marathon County, WI at a glance
Median household income
$77,884$6,490 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Marathon County, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Marathon County, WI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wausau, WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $791 | $9,492 | $31,640 | 12.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $889 | $10,668 | $35,560 | 13.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,147 | $13,764 | $45,880 | 17.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,511 | $18,132 | $60,440 | 23.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,519 | $18,228 | $60,760 | 23.4% |
Rent in Marathon County, WI, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Marathon County, WI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $77,884 a year ($6,490 a month before tax).
What $77,884 leaves after Wisconsin taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Wisconsin
Living in Marathon County, WI: common questions
What is the median household income in Marathon County, WI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Marathon County, WI is $77,884 per year (approximately $6,490 per month).
What is the average rent in Marathon County, WI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $791 for a studio, $889 for one bedroom, $1,147 for two, $1,511 for three and $1,519 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Marathon County, WI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Marathon County, WI?
To keep a $1,147 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,880 a year, or $3,823 a month. That is 59% of what the typical household in Marathon County, WI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Marathon County, WI?
On the local median income of $77,884 ($6,490 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,245 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,947 for everything else and $1,298 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,147 takes 35% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Marathon County, WI?
Homes in Wisconsin paid 19.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $176. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.