RANK #150 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 29 WI · POP 105,657
1YR FORECAST: +3.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +35%
Walworth County, Wisconsin, is often recognized for Lake Geneva, a prominent resort community that has attracted visitors since the late 1800s. Located in southeastern Wisconsin, bordering Illinois, the county is approximately an hour's drive from Milwaukee and Madison, and about 90 minutes from Chicago, making it accessible for commuters. The area maintains a semi-rural atmosphere with rolling hills and numerous lakes, including Delavan Lake and Whitewater Lake, offering extensive outdoor recreation like boating, fishing, and hiking. The community feel varies from the active resort town of Lake Geneva to quieter lakeside villages and agricultural areas.
Life in Walworth County balances small-town living with access to larger urban amenities. The county's public schools are generally well-regarded, with several districts exceeding state and national averages. Transportation within the county is primarily by car, though a shared-ride taxi service, Walworth County Connect, is available. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and tourism, has diversified to include manufacturing, healthcare, and construction. Recent economic activity includes investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, alongside ongoing efforts to address housing availability and childcare, which support the local workforce.
Walworth County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.1% YoY, population +0.2%, wages +5.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 13.0x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Foundry Ridge Energy Center (Natural Gas Peaker Plant)
Invenergy
|
$324M | Proposed |
|
Darien Solar Energy Center
Invenergy (developed), We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Madison Gas and Electric (owners)
|
$250M | Operating |
|
Bluff Creek Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Facility
We Energies
|
$200M | Operating |
|
Darien Solar Energy Center Battery Storage
Invenergy (developed), We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Madison Gas and Electric (owners)
|
$75M | Planned |
|
Millennium Headquarters and Warehouse
Millennium (Scherrer Construction)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Walworth County ranks #150 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 85/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.1% and a median household income of $80,520 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Walworth County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $302,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,150/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Walworth County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved +4.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.39% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Walworth County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.