Forest County, Wisconsin Housing Market
In Forest County, Wisconsin, the median home value is $185,000, with a median monthly rent of $594. This places Forest County at #1574 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #60 within Wisconsin.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $732
- Establishments: 250
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 46
- Multi-family: 0
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 3,885 (avg $66,942)
- Outflow: 3,646 (avg $67,333)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 2 active ZIP codes in Forest County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54562 | 279.9 | +5.11% | 2025 |
| 2 | 54521 | 266.4 | +0.38% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Forest County Compares
| Metric | Forest County | Wisconsin Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $185,000 | $234,086 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $594 | $915 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 82.0% | 75.9% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 26.0 | 21.2 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Forest County is 21.0% below the Wisconsin state average and 18.8% below the U.S. national average. The median rent of $594/month is 35.1% below the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 26.0, Forest County is a strongly rent-favored market. Home prices are high relative to rents, meaning renting is typically far cheaper than owning in the near term.
Forest County has an owner-occupancy rate of 82.0%, compared to 75.9% in Wisconsin and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar County | Nebraska | $185,000 | $716 |
| Athens County | Ohio | $185,000 | $939 |
| Spencer County | Indiana | $185,200 | $751 |
| Jones County | Iowa | $184,800 | $784 |
| Mower County | Minnesota | $185,200 | $927 |
Other Counties in Wisconsin
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County | $183,400 | $789 | 77.2% |
| Manitowoc County | $186,900 | $797 | 77.1% |
| Juneau County | $177,700 | $879 | 78.1% |
| Lincoln County | $192,700 | $755 | 79.5% |
| Shawano County | $194,000 | $821 | 77.5% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).