← Map/← Wisconsin/Counties/Sauk

Sauk
Wisconsin

66K

Population

$73K

Median Income

$335K

Median Home

Swing

Politics

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What stands out

What stands out about Sauk County: the restaurant count per person is in the top 12% of American counties (1.2 per 1,000) and the property tax rate is in the top 13% of American counties (1.56%). Within Wisconsin it ranks 16th of 71 counties for the restaurant count per person.

Where you are

You live in Sauk County, Wisconsin. 65,664 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +0).

Wisconsin has a graduated income tax reaching 7.65%, does not tax Social Security, and exempts some retirement income for residents 65 and over. Property taxes are high, largely for schools and local services, with a state lottery credit offsetting part of the bill. Milwaukee and Madison drive most job growth; the northern half of the state is lakes, forests and second homes.

Money

The typical household here brings in $72,930 a year, higher than 79% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $50,177. Unemployment runs 2.8%, lower than 72% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home.

Wisconsin takes 4.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,262 a year.

Home

The median home costs $340K, pricier than 77% of American counties, about 2.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $960 a month. Property tax is 1.56% of home value, roughly $3,550 a year on that median home, higher than 87% of American counties. 73% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.3 per 1,000 residents, lower than 78% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 24 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 78.2 years, longer than 77% of American counties. There are 112 active physicians in the county, about 17.1 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.7 of 5 stars. 7.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.99 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 50% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted almost evenly. 75% of eligible voters turned out. Under Wisconsin law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 47°F, highs near 58 and lows near 36, colder than 84% of American counties. About 31 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 60 out of 100, riskier than 60% of American counties; the county has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 266 Mbps down, faster than 81% of American counties. There are 8 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.2 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 7 museums.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$73K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate9.4%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate2.8%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$81,536
Federal Spending per Capita$744
Median Individual Earnings$44K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers34.5%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$69K
Avg Credit Score711
Work From Home %7.7%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1822.4%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households28.3%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms43
Income (20th Percentile)$34K
Income (80th Percentile)$125K
Income (95th Percentile)$200K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher25.2%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School7.8%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %8.1%
Dependency Ratio0.71
Medicare Spending / Person$3,078
SS Benefits / Person$4,479
Education Wage Premium1.89x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$58K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$70K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$37K
Public Assistance Recipients2.8%
Average Annual Wage$50K
Professional Services Concentration0.48x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here155
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here0.4%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government1.1%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings0.5%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$12M
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.01x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars7%
Oil and Gas Share of Earnings (incl. proprietors)0.0%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$335K
This county
$285K state avg
$303K national
Median Sale Price$322K
This county
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$1273/mo
This county
$1200/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate1.56%
This county
1.51% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $3,550

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,111/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+5.0%−+2.0% since 2024
Home Value to Income Ratio2.5x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households9.4%
Homeownership Rate73.2%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast
13.6%
Active Listings
217
New Listings / Month
64

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage
45 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Balanced market
3.6 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
33.8%
Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)— Sellers market — homes selling at or above list
99.9%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy78.2 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Hospital Rating4.7 / 5
This county
national avg 3.0 stars
Food Insecurity7.3%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index9.0 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score16
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score16
Dental Care Shortage Score22
Healthcare Shortage Score18.0
Healthcare Offices93
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)40.2%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)15.2%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)17.3%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)28.2%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)28.6%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians112
Nursing Home Rating3.0 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients648 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$9,202
Uninsured (under 65)7.5%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression25.5%

Education

Math Test Scores3.00 grade level
Reading Test Scores2.98 grade level
HS Diploma Holders13,329
Bachelor's Degree Holders8,152
HS Completion Rate92.2%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools11

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.3 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Firearm Fatality Rate12.7 / 100K
This county
national avg ~13.6/100K
Drug Overdose Rate27.8 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities10
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)23th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)24.3 / 100K
Suicide Rate16.6 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-1.0
January Sunshine0.01
January Temperature-1.29
Average Temp47°F+4.0% since 2022
Avg High Temp58°F+4.5% since 2022
Avg Low Temp36°F+3.7% since 2022
Median AQIAQI 44
Good Air Days218 days/yr
Unhealthy Air Days21 days/yr
Annual Precipitation30.7 in/yr-8.1% since 2022
Avg Storm Events8.6 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$48K
Ozone Days124 days/yr
This county
national avg 50 days/yr
Drought Index (2022)0.06
Heating Degree Days7,244 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days669 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)7,893 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)524 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0
Avg Flood Events / Year1.6
Avg Hail Events / Year1.0
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)60 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)90 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations15 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.4 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)63 properties
FAA-Registered Airports10 total
Airports (excl. heliports)8 airports

Brewery Scene

Total Breweries3 breweries
Microbreweries1 microbreweries
Brewpubs2 brewpubs

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed266 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed148 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)369 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)269 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)30 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)40 ms
Households with 100Mbps+88.8%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet11.3%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)202 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations14 stations
DC Fast Chargers18 chargers
Level 2 EV Chargers25

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers2,592 workers
Public Transit Commuters63 workers
Walk to Work (workers)1,047 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)608 workers
Bike Commuters0.3%
Walk to Work3.1%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden31.0%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers5.3 per 10K residents
Childcare Facilities12

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout75.1%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)3.726
Nonprofit Organizations425
Veterans Share7.8%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults55.4%
Never-Married Adults26.8%
Divorced Adults11.8%
Religious Organizations49
Asian Population0.4%
Native American Population0.8%
Membership Associations11.7 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.16 per 1K residents
Colleges & Universities1
Nursing & Care Facilities26
Grocery Stores16
Arts & Entertainment Venues9
Hotels & Lodging74
Recreation Businesses48
Professional Services Firms108
Veterinary Practices19
Real Estate Firms98
Museums7
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$88K
Avg Student Loan Balance$8K
Avg Credit Card Balance$4K
Loan Delinquency Rate31.0%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.49%

Politics

Swing

2024 Presidential · Wisconsin was R+1 statewide

vs Wisconsin State

Income tax
7.65%Same (state law)
Property tax
1.56%1.51% state avg
Politics
SwingR+1
COL Index
93state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +0

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Wealthier people moving in (IRS: 1.13x avg income)

Economic Mobility

44%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Sauk County

Median home value: $340K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Wisconsin profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable