Population 138,403 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Marathon County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Marathon County
Household size in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Marathon County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has edged down from 2.51 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Marathon County is 42.2 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.2, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Marathon County than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin. The single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Marathon County
Renters in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Marathon County rent their homes (26.7%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 41.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southeast. The renter share is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Marathon County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Marathon County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Wisconsin counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Marathon County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $690 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $737 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $803 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,010 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$320 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in Marathon County runs $1,010 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $320 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Marathon County
Bachelor's degrees in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.5% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Marathon County than nationally: 28.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.9% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Marathon County is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Marathon County
| Period | Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Marathon County has been strong: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.6 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Marathon County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon County | 2.42 | 42.2 | 9.0% | 26.7% | 5.8% | 1978 | $1,010 | 28.5% | 93.3% | 2.8% |
| Menominee County | 3.01 | 37.4 | 30.2% | 24.5% | 32.5% | 1984 | $629 | 18.6% | 95.3% | 9.3% |
| Oconto County | 2.38 | 46.6 | 7.9% | 15.0% | 16.9% | 1981 | $858 | 19.5% | 93.5% | 2.0% |
| Chippewa County | 2.40 | 42.7 | 7.7% | 25.8% | 7.1% | 1976 | $994 | 23.9% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
| Dunn County | 2.47 | 38.6 | 7.6% | 33.0% | 9.6% | 1983 | $1,055 | 31.0% | 94.9% | 4.4% |
| Door County | 2.04 | 53.5 | 5.0% | 21.8% | 32.0% | 1981 | $1,084 | 37.4% | 96.2% | 2.4% |
| St. Croix County | 2.58 | 40.7 | 8.6% | 21.7% | 4.4% | 1991 | $1,372 | 39.1% | 96.7% | 2.5% |
| Washington County | 2.66 | 40.9 | 8.3% | 18.7% | 4.4% | 1991 | $1,894 | 50.1% | 96.1% | 3.1% |
| Ramsey County | 2.50 | 37.3 | 11.7% | 39.4% | 6.6% | 1963 | $1,455 | 45.3% | 91.0% | 4.9% |
| Hennepin County | 2.43 | 39.3 | 9.4% | 37.3% | 6.7% | 1972 | $1,684 | 53.6% | 93.7% | 4.6% |
| Carver County | 2.72 | 39.9 | 9.4% | 18.5% | 3.5% | 1996 | $1,620 | 50.9% | 96.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Berkshire County, MA · Wilson County, TN · Wichita County, TX · Douglas County, GA · Coconino County, AZ · Randolph County, NC · Spotsylvania County, VA · Skagit County, WA · Schuylkill County, PA · Rowan County, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Marathon County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.