The typical owner-occupied home in Marathon County is worth about $219,600, 18% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 34% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,218 a year in property taxes, about 1.47% of their home's value, close to the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $77,884 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Marathon County at a glance
| Marathon County | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,600 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,218 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.47% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $77,884 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 73% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 59% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,463 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 17.9% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $999 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.7% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1978 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.0% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 138,403 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Marathon County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Marathon County home of $219,600 with 20% down costs about $1,542 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,908, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $66,099 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Marathon County household income of $77,884; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $259,000.
The median rent here is $999 a month, so owning the median home costs about $543 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $43,920 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $175,680 |
| Principal and interest | $1,182 |
| Property taxes (1.47% a year) | $269 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $92 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,542 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,686 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $215,622 |
| Principal and interest | $1,451 |
| Property taxes (1.47% a year) | $269 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $92 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $97 |
| Total per month | $1,908 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Marathon County
What is the median home value in Marathon County?
About $219,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Marathon County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,218 a year, which is about 1.47% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Marathon County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,542 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $66,099 a year.
More about Marathon County
- Mortgage Refinance in Marathon County
- Debt Relief in Marathon County
- Home Equity Loans in Marathon County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data