RANK #38 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 29 WI · POP 138,403
1YR FORECAST: +4.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +39%
Rib Mountain State Park, home to one of the oldest geological formations on Earth and Granite Peak Ski Area, is a prominent feature of Marathon County, Wisconsin. Located in north-central Wisconsin, Marathon County is the state's largest county by area. Wausau, the county seat, is about a three-hour drive from Milwaukee and Minneapolis. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and small-town atmosphere. Commuting within Wausau is facilitated by Metro Ride, the city's bus system. The county also boasts over 100 miles of bike and pedestrian routes, including the 83-mile Mountain-Bay State Trail. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with 17 county parks, numerous lakes and rivers, and extensive trails for hiking, biking, and winter sports.
Life in Marathon County is characterized by a strong sense of community and access to outdoor activities. Public schools in Marathon County generally perform above the state average in math and reading proficiency. The economy is largely driven by manufacturing and agriculture, with Marathon County ranking highly in dairy production and total agricultural sales. While the county has seen an increase in households struggling with basic needs, efforts are underway to address these challenges and improve the quality of life for all residents.
Marathon County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +9.7% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Marathon County ranks #38 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 96/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 1.2% year-over-year). Median household income here is $77,884.
By national standards, Marathon County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $219,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.35 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $999/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Marathon County's job market is contracting (-1.2% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.2% change). Home values are +9.7% 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 2.79% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Marathon County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +9.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Marathon County is now valued at $219,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.