Oconto County, WI

This county of 40,428 residents needs 1,094 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
40,428 (2026)
Households
17,054
Median household income
$82,901 (2026)
Typical home value
$290,330
Owner-occupied
59%
Five-year housing need
1,094 units

Comparison to other Wisconsin counties

Oconto County: $82,901 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$59K >$107K
Oconto County: 0.52 jobs to household ratio
<0.47 >1.52
Oconto County: Permits since 2021 represent 3.2% of housing
<1.1% >7.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $290,330, typical home prices in Oconto County, WI are close to the Wisconsin average of $296,335. Oconto County, WI's median household income of $82,901 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Oconto County, WI has a population of roughly 39,589 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Oconto County, WI has roughly 17,054 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Oconto County, WI is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 82% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Oconto County, WI, with 59% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Oconto County, WI needs 1,094 new units over the next 5 years.

604
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
3.5%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 17,054 in 2026 to 17,658 in 2031.
490
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
218
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.8 per 1,000 units.
134
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.6%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
138
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.4%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
1,094
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
219
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
4.5%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.9%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?