In Green Lake County, Wisconsin, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Green Lake County, 16.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 76% of U.S. counties.
What drives Green Lake County's score
In Green Lake County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 48.1. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 18.2. People with a car or retail loan behind: 1.4%, August 2025, lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Green Lake County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Green Lake County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 48.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.6% · 202453rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.1% · 202450th percentile
- People with a disability15.6% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
- People without health insurance9.0% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,849 · 202431st percentile
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- 41.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.8% · August 202529th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people134.4 · 202553rd percentile
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- 35.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202628th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.4% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
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- 27.5 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent17.3% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.5% · fiscal year 20279th percentile
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- 18.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.4% · August 202531st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind1.4% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.7% · second quarter of 202618th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Green Lake County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Green Lake County, 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Green Lake County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Green Lake County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 26.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Green Lake County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Green Lake County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 5.9% in 2010 to 8.3% in 2011.
The share of households in Green Lake County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 11.7%
Low on the chart: 5.7% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
How Green Lake County has changed
Green Lake County's population rose 15% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 18,369. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Green Lake County had its largest drop, from 7,346 in 2005 to 6,392 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Green Lake County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 7,404 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.2% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.4% | 2024 13.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,237 | 2024 $73,849 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Green Lake County's history
1858
Created in 1858. Wikipedia
1956
A tornado in April 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed seven people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1985
A tornado in May 1985 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1992
A tornado in September 1992 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 19,105. The 2020 Census counted 19,018, 100% of the peak. Census Bureau
2004
A tornado in June 2004 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Green Lake County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Green Lake County beside its neighbors
Green Lake County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Green Lake County ranks 3rd of the seven; Marquette County is highest, at 30.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lake County, WI | 23 | 13.6% | 26.2% |
| Marquette County, WI | 22 | 12.2% | 30.2% |
| Waushara County, WI | 19 | 11.1% | 28.3% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 12 | 9.8% | 19.1% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 9 | 9.1% | 20.8% |
| Dodge County, WI | 5 | 9.2% | 21.1% |
| Columbia County, WI | 4 | 6.7% | 16.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Green Lake County the poorest county in Wisconsin?
No, Green Lake County's poverty rate was 13.6% in 2024, 7th highest of 72 in Wisconsin (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Menominee County, at 24.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Green Lake County ranks 16th of 72 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Green Lake County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Action of Wisconsin
Legal aid
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Disability Rights Wisconsin
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Green Lake County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Green Lake County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.