The typical owner-occupied home in Rusk County is worth about $163,400, 39% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 51% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,834 a year in property taxes, about 1.12% of their home's value, lower than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $59,944 a year, so the median home costs 2.7 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Rusk County at a glance
| Rusk County | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,400 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,834 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.12% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $59,944 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 78% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 53% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,260 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.3% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $874 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.6% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1977 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 26.6% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 14,179 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Rusk County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Rusk County home of $163,400 with 20% down costs about $1,100 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,372, 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 $47,141 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Rusk County household income of $59,944; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $208,000.
The median rent here is $874 a month, so owning the median home costs about $226 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $32,680 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $130,720 |
| Principal and interest | $879 |
| Property taxes (1.12% a year) | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,100 |
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| Down payment | $5,719 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $160,440 |
| Principal and interest | $1,079 |
| Property taxes (1.12% a year) | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $68 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $72 |
| Total per month | $1,372 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Rusk County
What is the median home value in Rusk County?
About $163,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Rusk County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,834 a year, which is about 1.12% 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 Rusk County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,100 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $47,141 a year.
More about Rusk County
- Mortgage Refinance in Rusk County
- Debt Relief in Rusk County
- Home Equity Loans in Rusk 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