In Waupaca County, Wisconsin, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Waupaca County, 15.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 93% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 86% of U.S. counties.
What drives Waupaca County's score
In Waupaca County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 38.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 18.2. About one in seven adults aged 25 to 54 (15.3%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a lower share than in 82% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Waupaca 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.
Waupaca 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.
- 38.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.0% · August 202522nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people134.3 · 202553rd percentile
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- 32.3 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 rent19.5% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.9% · fiscal year 20276th percentile
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- 24.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.7% · August 202521st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.4% · August 202539th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score30.2% · second quarter of 202613th percentile
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- 24.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.0% · 202415th percentile
- Children below the poverty line10.2% · 202413th percentile
- People with a disability14.4% · 2020 to 202434th percentile
- People without health insurance5.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$76,754 · 202425th percentile
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- 18.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202618th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.3% · 2020 to 202417th 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca County, 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Waupaca County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Waupaca County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 27.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Waupaca County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Waupaca County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 9.7% in 2019 to 7.9% in 2020.
The share of households in Waupaca County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen to 10.0%
Low on the chart: 6.1% 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, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
How Waupaca County has changed
Waupaca County's population had its largest rise, from 45,883 in 1989 to 48,918 in 1994.
Waupaca County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 51,171
High on the chart: 52,605 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Waupaca County rose most sharply from its first year (16,147 in 1990) to 18,887 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Waupaca County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 11% since
High on the chart: 20,756 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.8% | 2025 3.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.5% | 2024 9.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,491 | 2024 $76,754 |
The table uses 3.1% for 2025; the score uses 3.2% 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 Waupaca County's history
1851
Created 1851, organized 1853. Wikipedia
1951
A tornado in September 1951 killed six people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1984
A tornado in April 1984 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
A thunderstorm in June 2001 did $1.38 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 52,410. The 2020 Census counted 51,812, 99% of the peak. Census Bureau
2013
A tornado in August 2013 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Waupaca County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Waupaca County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Waupaca County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Waupaca County ranks 2nd of the six; Waushara County is highest, at 28.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara County, WI | 19 | 11.1% | 28.3% |
| Shawano County, WI | 15 | 10.8% | 24.9% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 13 | 9.0% | 27.6% |
| Winnebago County, WI | 12 | 9.8% | 19.1% |
| Portage County, WI | 4 | 10.5% | 21.0% |
| Outagamie County, WI | 3 | 6.6% | 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 Waupaca County the poorest county in Wisconsin?
No, Waupaca County's poverty rate was 9.0% in 2024, 52nd 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, Waupaca County ranks 32nd of 72 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.