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Marathon County, Wisconsin Demographics 2026

Marathon County, Wisconsin has a population of 138,067, the 10th most populous county in Wisconsin. The median household income is $76,185 and the median home value is $205,500. The poverty rate is 8.9%.

Marathon County Quick Facts

Population 138,067
Median Household Income $76,185
Median Home Value $205,500
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment Rate 2.9%
Median Age 41.2 years
Homeownership Rate 73.4%
Affordability Ratio 2.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.3%
High School Graduation 93.1%
Cities/Places 19
Population 138,067 10th of 72
Median Income $76,185 about average state
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment 2.9%

Economy & Housing

Employment

2.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
67.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.4%
Renter 26.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

24out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Cities & Places in Marathon County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Wausau city39,893$61,87714.4%$155,900
Weston village15,784$75,5657.7%$215,900
Kronenwetter village8,420$107,2687.7%$240,700
Rothschild village5,532$87,2509.5%$188,000
Mosinee city4,492$71,31410.3%$150,000
Maine village2,608$110,5922.1%$262,100
Colby city2,118$52,57416.0%$147,900
Abbotsford city2,100$59,94317.0%$135,600
Schofield city2,020$65,4789.8%$144,200
Spencer village1,621$74,2452.2%$143,000
Stratford village1,439$65,88012.6%$189,700
Marathon City village1,397$90,0003.6%$196,600
Edgar village1,366$61,4427.9%$165,900
Athens village1,005$49,90417.0%$168,100
Dorchester village818$54,75014.1%$142,000
Hatley village593$87,1886.9%$196,700
Unity village373$58,12513.4%$105,300
Elderon village142$55,4176.3%$143,800
Fenwood village135$82,5002.2%$117,500

Population Overview

Marathon County is located in Wisconsin with a total population of 138,067. It is the 10th most populous county out of 72 in Wisconsin. The county encompasses 19 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Marathon County is 41.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Marathon County is $76,185. This is about average than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $205,500. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $247,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Marathon County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Marathon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Asian residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (5.5% vs 2.9%).

Education

27.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.1%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Marathon County, Wisconsin?

Marathon County has a population of 138,067, making it the 10th most populous county in Wisconsin.

What is the median income in Marathon County?

The median household income in Marathon County is $76,185 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.

How many cities are in Marathon County, Wisconsin?

Marathon County contains 19 Census-designated places.