Harrison
RANK #227 / 996 NAT · #21 / 29 WI · POP 52,361
1YR FORECAST: +5.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Calumet County, Wisconsin, distinguishes itself with High Cliff State Park, where limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment rise over Lake Winnebago, the state's largest inland lake. Located in eastern Wisconsin, the county seat, Chilton, is minutes from Lake Winnebago. The county offers a blend of rural landscapes and urban areas, with the northwest corner bordering the Fox Cities metropolitan area, which includes Appleton. Commutes are generally short, with an average travel time of 21.8 minutes for residents. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with extensive trails for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling, plus opportunities for boating and fishing on Lake Winnebago.
Life in Calumet County offers a mix of small-town charm and access to larger city amenities. Many families and young professionals reside here, with public schools generally performing above the state average. The economy is diverse, with manufacturing and agriculture playing key roles. Family-owned farms contribute significantly, with the county recognized for its dairy goat production. Recent economic developments highlight growth in tourism, which generated substantial economic activity in 2024. The county's economic development efforts also focus on attracting talent in sectors like engineering, manufacturing, production, healthcare, and education.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 7.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Natural Gas Peaking Facility (1,200 MW)
Invenergy
|
$1,200M | Proposed |
|
High Cliff Wind Energy Center
Invenergy
|
$225M | Proposed |
|
Forest Junction - Cypress 345.0kV Wind Project
Undisclosed (part of MISO interconnection queue)
|
$225M | Planned |
|
US 151 and WIS 55 Structure Replacements
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 77/100, Calumet County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $84,151 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in WI.
By national standards, Calumet County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $234,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $948/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Calumet County's job market is contracting (-1.8% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.5% change). Home values are +7.2% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.01% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Calumet County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +7.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Calumet County is now valued at $234,000. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.