In Lincoln County, Wisconsin, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Lincoln County, 16.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 88% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 90% of U.S. counties.
What drives Lincoln County's score
In Lincoln County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 30.2. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 12.6. People with a credit card behind: 2.3%, August 2025, lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Lincoln 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.
Lincoln 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.
- 30.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector15.7% · August 202521st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people105.6 · 202539th percentile
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- 29.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202638th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.9% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
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- 26.1 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 rent16.6% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.7% · fiscal year 202711th percentile
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- 23.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.3% · 202417th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.2% · 202418th percentile
- People with a disability14.0% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- People without health insurance4.7% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$72,835 · 202433rd percentile
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- 12.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.3% · August 20255th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.2% · August 202518th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score30.4% · second quarter of 202614th 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Lincoln County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Lincoln County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 28.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Lincoln County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Lincoln County getting SNAP food aid more than doubled to 13.1%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2011, reaching 8.4%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
How Lincoln County has changed
Lincoln County's population had its largest rise, from 26,772 in 1989 to 28,541 in 1994.
Lincoln County's population rose by about a fifth from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28,461
High on the chart: 29,666 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Lincoln County had its largest rise, from 10,327 in 1990 to 12,094 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Lincoln County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and is down 18% since
High on the chart: 12,094 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.4% | 2025 3.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.0% | 2024 9.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,119 | 2024 $72,835 |
The table uses 3.6% for 2025; the score uses 3.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Lincoln County's history
1875
Created in 1875 and named after President Abraham Lincoln. Wikipedia
1899
Primary sawmill burned down in 1899. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 29,641. The 2020 Census counted 28,415, 96% of the peak. Census Bureau
2011
A tornado in April 2011 did $10.9 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lincoln County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Lincoln County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Lincoln County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Lincoln County ranks 3rd of the six; Price County is highest, at 34.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langlade County, WI | 35 | 14.3% | 30.9% |
| Price County, WI | 21 | 12.2% | 34.7% |
| Lincoln County, WI | 9 | 9.3% | 28.1% |
| Oneida County, WI | 9 | 9.5% | 27.8% |
| Marathon County, WI | 6 | 7.5% | 18.1% |
| Taylor County, WI | 4 | 10.5% | 25.3% |
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 Lincoln County the poorest county in Wisconsin?
No, Lincoln County's poverty rate was 9.3% in 2024, 48th 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, Lincoln County ranks 40th of 72 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.