Burnett County

Burnett County is located in northwestern Wisconsin along the Minnesota border, forming part of the state’s broader Northwoods region. Established in 1861 and named for Wisconsin territorial governor Henry Dodge Burnett, the county developed around timber extraction and later shifted toward a mix of seasonal recreation and year-round rural living. Burnett County is small in population, with roughly 16,000 residents, and its settlement pattern is dispersed among small communities and unincorporated areas. The county seat is Siren. The landscape is characterized by extensive forests, sandy soils, and numerous lakes and wetlands, reflecting its glacially shaped terrain. Land use and the local economy center on forestry, small-scale agriculture, and service industries tied to outdoor activities. Culturally, the county is associated with Northwoods traditions, including hunting, fishing, and lake-based tourism, while maintaining a predominantly rural character.

Burnett County is located in northwestern Wisconsin along the Minnesota border, within the state’s forest-and-lakes region. The county seat is Siren; for local government and planning resources, visit the Burnett County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (data.census.gov), county-level population totals for Burnett County are published through the American Community Survey (ACS) and decennial census tables. Exact figures vary by release year and dataset; this profile should be compiled from a specific ACS 5-year release or the 2020 Census tables to ensure consistency.

Age & Gender

The American Community Survey (ACS) provides Burnett County distributions by age group (including standard cohorts such as under 18, 18–64, and 65+) and sex (male/female), which can be retrieved from detailed tables in data.census.gov. This category is typically reported as:

• Age distribution across standard Census age brackets
• Median age
• Sex distribution and sex ratio (males per 100 females)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity for Burnett County are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in decennial census and ACS products, accessible via data.census.gov. Standard reported categories include:

• Race: White; Black or African American; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Some Other Race; Two or More Races
• Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino (of any race) and Not Hispanic or Latino

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing characteristics for Burnett County are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through the ACS and can be sourced from data.census.gov. Common county-level metrics include:

• Number of households and average household size
• Household type (family vs. nonfamily; living alone; presence of children)
• Housing units, occupancy status (occupied vs. vacant), and tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied)
• Median value of owner-occupied housing units and median gross rent (ACS)

Note on exact values: This response does not include numeric figures because a specific Census dataset and year (for example, “ACS 5-year 2018–2022” or “2020 Census”) must be selected to provide exact, verifiable county-level numbers. Burnett County’s demographics are available from the U.S. Census Bureau through data.census.gov using that chosen release.

Burnett County is a sparsely populated, heavily forested rural county in northwestern Wisconsin, where longer distances between households can raise last‑mile network costs and constrain digital communication options.

Direct county‑level email usage statistics are not published, so broadband and device access are used as proxies for likely email access and adoption. The most recent public measures of household internet subscriptions, broadband type, and computer access are available through the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS) for Burnett County. County age structure also shapes email adoption because older populations tend to have lower overall internet use; Burnett County’s age distribution can be referenced via Census QuickFacts (Burnett County). Gender distribution is generally close to parity and is not a primary driver of email adoption compared with age and access measures; the same QuickFacts profile reports sex composition.

Connectivity constraints in rural Wisconsin are commonly reflected in availability gaps for higher‑speed fixed service; location‑level broadband availability and provider data are documented on the FCC National Broadband Map.

County context and connectivity-relevant characteristics

Burnett County is in northwestern Wisconsin, bordering Minnesota, and is characterized by a largely rural settlement pattern, extensive forests and lakes, and relatively low population density compared with Wisconsin’s metro counties. These characteristics tend to increase the cost and complexity of building dense cellular and fiber infrastructure and can lead to coverage gaps, especially away from state highways and the largest communities. Basic county geography and population baselines are available from the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Burnett County.

This overview distinguishes network availability (where mobile service is present) from adoption (the extent to which households and individuals rely on mobile phones and mobile internet service). County-specific mobile adoption statistics are limited; where county-level figures are not published, the most defensible approach is to use county- or tract-level broadband indicators (where available) and statewide/national survey context while clearly labeling limitations.

Network availability (coverage) vs. adoption (household use)

Network availability (supply-side)

Network availability describes whether a location is served by cellular networks and what technologies are offered (e.g., LTE/4G, 5G). The principal U.S. source for standardized, location-based coverage reporting is the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection and national broadband map.

• FCC Broadband Map (coverage and technology): The FCC National Broadband Map provides location-level reporting for mobile and fixed services, including reported mobile broadband coverage by provider and technology. It is the most direct public source to evaluate where 4G LTE and various forms of 5G are reported within Burnett County.
• Wisconsin broadband planning context: State-level planning and grant documentation that provides context on rural coverage priorities is maintained through the Wisconsin Public Service Commission broadband programs.

County-level limitation: The FCC map is authoritative for reported availability, but it is not a direct measure of on-the-ground user experience (signal quality, indoor coverage, congestion, terrain effects), and it does not measure whether residents subscribe to mobile service.

Adoption (demand-side)

Adoption describes whether households actually use mobile phones, and whether mobile service is used as a primary means of internet access.

• Internet subscription indicators (county-level): The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) includes measures related to household internet subscription types (including cellular data plans). These can be accessed through data.census.gov by selecting Burnett County, WI and using tables in the “Computer and Internet Use” topic (ACS subject tables and detailed tables vary by release).
• Broadband adoption framing: The FCC also publishes adoption-focused material (generally at higher geographies than county) that helps distinguish availability from subscription behavior; see the FCC’s broader broadband resources via the FCC broadband pages.

County-level limitation: Publicly cited “mobile penetration” figures (e.g., subscriptions per 100 people) are typically published at national or state levels, not consistently at the county level. County-level adoption is more commonly proxied through ACS household subscription measures (including cellular-only or cellular-including households), rather than a direct “penetration rate.”

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

Household access proxies (ACS)

For Burnett County, the most comparable public indicators of access and reliance come from ACS household measures:

• Households with a cellular data plan (often measured as part of internet subscription types)
• Households with no internet subscription
• Households with broadband (which may include mobile/cellular and/or fixed broadband, depending on table definition)

These measures are accessible via data.census.gov and can be filtered to Burnett County, Wisconsin. Because ACS is survey-based, estimates include margins of error that can be sizable in smaller counties.

Mobile subscription “penetration” (subscriptions per capita)

County-level mobile subscription penetration is not commonly published as an official statistic in the way fixed broadband adoption is. Public sources that report subscriptions often do so at national/state level or by carrier market areas, limiting direct county comparability.

Key limitation statement: A definitive “mobile phone penetration rate” specific to Burnett County is not consistently available in standard federal statistical releases. Household-level ACS measures provide the most transparent county-level indicators related to internet access via cellular plans.

Mobile internet usage patterns and connectivity (4G/5G)

4G LTE availability

• Typical rural baseline: LTE is the dominant wide-area mobile broadband technology in rural counties and remains the primary coverage layer in many non-metro areas.
• Burnett County verification source: Reported LTE coverage footprints by provider can be reviewed on the FCC National Broadband Map using the mobile broadband layers.

5G availability (and variability)

5G availability in rural counties often varies by:

• Type of 5G deployed: Low-band 5G tends to cover larger areas with speeds closer to LTE-to-moderate improvements, while mid-band and mmWave are typically more limited geographically.
• Backhaul and site density: Lakes/forests and low population density can reduce the business case for dense mid-band/mmWave deployments.

For Burnett County, the presence and extent of 5G by provider should be treated as coverage reporting rather than guaranteed performance. The most consistent public view is again the FCC National Broadband Map, which allows inspection of reported 5G availability.

Performance and user experience (not the same as availability)

Public, standardized countywide performance statistics for mobile (download/upload/latency) are less consistently published than fixed broadband performance. Where performance is discussed, it is commonly based on:

• Crowd-sourced or device-measured datasets (not official adoption measures)
• Carrier-reported coverage footprints (not speed guarantees)

Key limitation statement: Public county-specific mobile performance statistics and technology split among actual users (share using LTE vs 5G) are not typically available as official measures; availability layers and household subscription surveys are the most defensible public sources.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Smartphones as the primary end-user device

Nationally, smartphones are the predominant device for mobile connectivity, and cellular data plans are structured primarily around smartphone use. At the county level, publicly available datasets typically measure:

• Presence of an internet subscription type (including cellular data plans) at the household level (ACS)
• Presence of computing devices at the household level (ACS device categories may include smartphone, desktop/laptop, tablet; table availability depends on ACS release and geography)

The most relevant public source to identify device-type prevalence for Burnett County is the ACS “Computer and Internet Use” topic via data.census.gov. This supports statements about households with computing devices and forms of internet subscription, but it does not provide the same granularity as private market research on handset models.

Other connected devices

In rural areas, some mobile internet usage also occurs through:

• Fixed wireless receivers using licensed/unlicensed spectrum (not a “mobile phone” device category)
• Hotspots and cellular routers (counted as cellular data plans in some household reporting contexts)

Key limitation statement: Detailed county-level breakdowns of handset categories (e.g., smartphone vs flip phone) and device model market share are generally proprietary and not published as official statistics.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Burnett County

Rural settlement pattern and distance to infrastructure

Low density increases per-user infrastructure cost and reduces the number of towers needed for basic outdoor coverage but can limit:

• Indoor coverage reliability (fewer nearby sites, more terrain/vegetation attenuation)
• Capacity in localized seasonal demand areas (e.g., lake regions)

Terrain, vegetation, and water features

Burnett County’s forests and numerous lakes can affect propagation:

• Tree cover can weaken higher-frequency signals more than lower-frequency signals.
• Shoreline and recreational areas can create seasonal spikes in demand that affect congestion.

These are general RF engineering considerations; county-specific quantified effects are not typically published in public datasets.

Age distribution, income, and housing characteristics (measured via Census)

Demographic structure and housing characteristics are associated with differences in:

• Likelihood of relying on mobile-only internet vs subscribing to fixed broadband
• Device ownership patterns and digital skills

The most reliable public sources for these county characteristics are:

• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Burnett County) for high-level demographics
• Detailed ACS tables via data.census.gov for age, income, housing, and internet subscription/device measures

Cross-border and travel corridors

Because Burnett County borders Minnesota and includes travel routes to recreation destinations, coverage and capacity can vary along highways and in tourism-heavy areas. Public coverage confirmation remains best handled through the FCC National Broadband Map rather than generalized statements about specific corridors.

Summary of what can be stated definitively with public data

• Availability (4G/5G): Reported provider coverage for LTE and 5G in Burnett County is documented in the FCC National Broadband Map. This is a supply-side view and does not measure subscription or performance.
• Adoption (household use of cellular for internet): County-level household indicators for cellular data plan subscriptions and device/internet access are available through the ACS on data.census.gov, with margins of error that should be reported when citing estimates.
• Device types: Public county-level data can describe household device ownership categories and internet subscription types (ACS), but detailed smartphone vs non-smartphone market share is generally not available as an official county statistic.
• Influencing factors: Burnett County’s rural geography, forested terrain, and dispersed housing pattern are well-established structural factors that commonly shape mobile coverage and adoption patterns; demographic context is available from Census QuickFacts and ACS tables.

Burnett County is a largely rural county in northwestern Wisconsin on the Minnesota border, with key communities including Siren (county seat) and Grantsburg. Its economy and culture are shaped by outdoor recreation (lakes, forests, seasonal cabins), tourism, and a relatively older age profile than many urban Wisconsin counties—factors that typically correlate with heavier use of Facebook and YouTube and comparatively lower use of newer, youth-skewing platforms.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• Local county-specific social media penetration is not published in a standard, publicly available dataset (major sources such as the U.S. Census do not measure platform use at county resolution). County-level estimates generally require proprietary audience panels or ad-platform reach data.
• Best-available benchmark for Burnett County is statewide and national survey data:
  • U.S. adults: About 69% report using at least one social media site. Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.
  • Wisconsin context: County demographics (older, rural) align with slightly lower overall social media adoption than urban areas, based on rural/urban patterns reported in national surveys. Source: Pew Research Center social media use by community type (tables include urban/suburban/rural splits).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National patterns used as the most reliable proxy for Burnett County’s age mix:

• Highest overall social media use: Ages 18–29 (highest “any social media” usage).
• Platform skews by age (U.S. adults):
  • Facebook remains broadly used across adult ages, including older adults.
  • Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok skew younger.
  • YouTube is high across nearly all age groups.
    Source for age-by-platform patterns: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.

Gender breakdown

National patterns (U.S. adults) used as a proxy where county-specific estimates are not publicly standardized:

• Women tend to report higher use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.
• Men tend to report higher use of Reddit and slightly higher use of some video/gaming-adjacent communities depending on measure/year.
• YouTube usage is high for both genders with relatively small differences compared with other platforms.
  Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.

Most-used platforms (percentages where available)

County-level platform shares are not published in a uniform public series; the most defensible percentages are national survey estimates:

• YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• Reddit: ~22%
  Source (platform penetration among U.S. adults): Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

Patterns most consistent with rural, tourism-oriented counties and supported by national research:

• Utility-first use dominates: Residents in rural areas more often use social platforms for keeping up with family/friends, local news, and community information rather than creator-driven trends. Documented motivation patterns appear in Pew’s social media research summaries. Source: Pew Research Center: Internet & Technology research.
• Facebook Groups and local pages are central for community coordination (events, school/community updates, classifieds, local services), aligning with Facebook’s strength among older adults and community-based communication.
• YouTube is a high-reach “how-to” and entertainment channel, commonly used across age groups for repair, outdoor skills, and hobby content; its broad adoption makes it a likely top platform in older and rural populations. Source: Pew Research Center platform usage tables.
• Seasonal content cycles: Tourism and recreation produce periodic spikes in posting and engagement around summer lake season, hunting/fishing seasons, and local events, with heavier emphasis on photos/video and community recommendations (lodging, dining, trail/lake conditions).
• Platform preference by function (typical pattern):
  • Facebook: community updates, local commerce, events, family networks
  • YouTube: long-form video, instruction, entertainment
  • Instagram: scenic/outdoors imagery and small-business visibility (more skewed to younger and visitors)
  • TikTok/Snapchat: more concentrated among younger residents and visitors; less dominant in older rural populations per national age gradients
    Source for platform-by-demographic gradients: Pew Research Center: Social Media Fact Sheet.

Burnett County, Wisconsin maintains vital records primarily through the Burnett County Register of Deeds, including certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records created or filed in the county. Adoption records are generally maintained within the court system and Wisconsin state vital records, and are not treated as open public records. The county clerk and clerk of courts also maintain records that can document family and associate relationships, such as probate cases (estates/guardianships) and certain civil and criminal court filings.

Public-facing online access is limited for vital records; requests are typically handled by application, identification, and fee through the Register of Deeds. County office locations, hours, and contact information are published on the county website: Burnett County, Wisconsin (official website). Department pages commonly used for records access include: Burnett County Register of Deeds and Burnett County Clerk of Courts.

Wisconsin court case information is available online through the state’s consolidated portal: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA). Privacy restrictions apply to many vital records for statutory confidentiality periods, and adoption and certain court records may be sealed or access-limited. In-person access is available during normal business hours at the relevant county offices for eligible record types.

Types of records available

Marriage records

• Marriage licenses: Issued by the Burnett County Clerk as the authorization to marry in Wisconsin.
• Marriage certificates / marriage records: The completed record of the marriage, returned after the ceremony and filed with the county; certified copies are typically issued from the county vital records office and/or through the Wisconsin state vital records system.

Divorce records

• Divorce case records (judgment of divorce / findings of fact and conclusions of law, and related filings): Maintained by the Burnett County Clerk of Circuit Court as part of the civil court case file.
• Divorce certificates (vital record index-level record): Maintained by the Wisconsin Vital Records Office (state level) as a vital record separate from the full court file.

Annulment records

• Annulment case records (judgment of annulment and case filings): Maintained by the Burnett County Clerk of Circuit Court as a civil action case file.
• Annulment vital record: Wisconsin treats annulments as vital events for state vital records purposes; certification is typically handled through the state vital records system rather than the full court file.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Burnett County marriage records

• Filed/maintained locally: Burnett County Clerk (issuance and county-level filing of marriage records).
• State vital records: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office maintains statewide marriage records and issues certified copies.
• Access methods: In-person, mail, and state-authorized vital records request channels are commonly used for certified copies; local offices also provide access consistent with Wisconsin vital records statutes and county procedures.

Burnett County divorce and annulment court records

• Filed/maintained: Burnett County Clerk of Circuit Court (official court record).
• Access methods:
  • Court case file access: Available through the Clerk of Circuit Court, subject to court rules and any sealing or confidential status.
  • Online case information: Wisconsin’s public court case access system provides docket-level and register-of-actions style information for many cases, with statutory and court-ordered confidentiality restrictions applied (some details may be omitted).
    Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)

State vital records for divorce/annulment

• Filed/maintained: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office.
• Access methods: Certified copies obtained through the state vital records request process (in-person where available, mail, and other state-authorized methods).
  Wisconsin DHS Vital Records

Typical information included in these records

Marriage license / marriage record (county and state vital record)

Common fields include:

• Full legal names of both parties (including prior names as reported)
• Dates of birth and places of birth
• Residences/addresses at time of application
• Date and place (municipality/county) of marriage
• Officiant name/title and officiant’s certification
• Names of witnesses (as required by Wisconsin law)
• Application details such as parents’ names may appear on the application record (content can vary by form version and statutory requirements at time of filing)

Divorce court file (circuit court record)

Common components include:

• Case caption (party names), case number, filing date, county
• Pleadings (summons/petition), affidavits, and proofs of service
• Temporary orders and motions
• Judgment of divorce and related findings/conclusions
• Orders addressing legal custody/physical placement, child support, maintenance, property division, and debt allocation (as applicable)
• Financial disclosure documents may be present in the file, subject to confidentiality rules and redactions

Divorce certificate (state vital record)

Typically contains summary information such as:

• Names of the parties
• Date and county where the divorce was granted
• Date of the event and basic identifying details used for indexing and certification

Annulment court file and vital record

• Court file: Similar structure to divorce case files, with the judgment of annulment and supporting pleadings/orders.
• Vital record: Summary/index-style information documenting the annulment event for state vital records purposes.

Privacy or legal restrictions

Vital records (marriage, divorce certificate, annulment vital record)

• Wisconsin vital records are governed by state statutes and administrative rules; access to certified copies is controlled through statutory eligibility, identification requirements, and fee schedules.
• Some vital record formats (for example, certified vs. uncertified copies) and access conditions vary by record type and by state rules in effect at the time of request.
• Certain information may be withheld or redacted on issued copies to comply with state law and identity-protection practices.

Court records (divorce/annulment case files)

• Many court records are public, but confidential information is restricted by Wisconsin law and court rules (for example, protected personal identifiers, certain financial account information, and records involving minors).
• Courts may seal specific documents or restrict access by order, and some filings may be confidential by statute.
• Online court access systems generally display limited information for certain case types and omit documents or data elements that are confidential or restricted.

Burnett County is a rural county in northwestern Wisconsin along the Minnesota border, with Siren as the county seat and small communities including Grantsburg and Webster. The population is older than the U.S. average and includes a sizable seasonal/second‑home component tied to lakes, forests, and outdoor recreation. The settlement pattern is low‑density, with most households living in dispersed rural areas or small towns rather than large employment centers.

Education Indicators

Public school districts, schools, and programs

Burnett County is primarily served by small K‑12 districts centered on its main communities. Public school counts and official school lists can vary slightly by year due to grade‑configuration changes; the most reliable current directory is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in its district/school lookup tools (see the Wisconsin DPI and its school/district directories).

Commonly referenced public districts serving Burnett County include:

• Siren School District (Siren area)
• Grantsburg School District (Grantsburg area)
• Webster School District (Webster area)

Notable program offerings in rural Wisconsin districts (including those in Burnett County) commonly include:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE)/vocational pathways (e.g., trades, business/marketing, agriculture, family and consumer sciences), reported through DPI CTE participation and course catalogs at the district level.
• Dual enrollment options through regional technical colleges and UW partners are common in northwestern Wisconsin; availability is district‑specific.
• Advanced Placement (AP) offerings tend to be limited in very small districts; many use dual credit as the primary advanced coursework route (proxy based on rural district patterns; district course catalogs provide definitive confirmation).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• District student–teacher ratios and high school graduation rates are published at the district and school level by Wisconsin DPI through its report card and accountability reporting. Burnett County districts are small, and class sizes typically track lower than urban Wisconsin averages (proxy based on rural district size), but the definitive ratios and graduation rates are reported by district in DPI’s annual accountability results.
• For the most current official metrics, the authoritative source is the Wisconsin School and District Report Cards (district pages include graduation outcomes and other performance indicators).

Adult educational attainment

The most consistently used countywide adult attainment measures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS):

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): county level reported in ACS 5‑year estimates (Burnett County is typically high‑80s to low‑90s percent range in recent ACS vintages; use the linked ACS table for the exact current estimate).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): county level reported in ACS 5‑year estimates (Burnett County is typically below the Wisconsin statewide share, reflecting a rural labor market; use the linked ACS table for the exact estimate).

Authoritative source tables:

• U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov (ACS table commonly used: S1501 Educational Attainment).

School safety measures and counseling resources

Wisconsin public schools generally report or publish:

• Emergency operations procedures, visitor management practices, and coordination with local law enforcement (district policy and board documentation).
• Student services staffing, including school counselors and student support programming (district staffing and student services pages). At the countywide level, safety and mental health supports are also connected to regional service networks and school‑based referrals; specific staffing ratios and program names are district‑published rather than centrally summarized for the county.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

County unemployment rates are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program and by Wisconsin workforce agencies. Burnett County’s unemployment is seasonally influenced by tourism and outdoor recreation.

• Official annual and monthly rates: BLS LAUS and Wisconsin workforce labor market dashboards (state source).

Major industries and employment sectors

Based on typical northwestern Wisconsin county employment structure (with confirmation available in ACS industry tables and state labor market profiles), major sectors include:

• Health care and social assistance (clinics, long‑term care, county and social services)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (tourism, hospitality, local retail)
• Manufacturing (small‑plant and regional manufacturing presence varies by community)
• Construction (homebuilding/renovation tied to seasonal properties)
• Public administration and education (county, municipal, and school district employment)
• Forestry, agriculture, and related services (smaller share but locally significant in rural areas)

Authoritative breakdowns:

• ACS: data.census.gov (industry and occupation tables such as DP03 and related detailed tables).
• State profiles: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational patterns in rural northern Wisconsin counties commonly emphasize:

• Service occupations (food service, personal care, protective services)
• Office/administrative support
• Sales and related
• Construction and extraction and installation/maintenance/repair
• Production and transportation/material moving
• Healthcare support and practitioners (smaller base but essential employers)

Definitive county shares are reported in ACS occupation tables (DP03 and detailed occupation tables) via data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Commuting in Burnett County reflects rural travel distances, with many workers commuting to jobs in nearby regional centers in Wisconsin and across the border into Minnesota.
• The ACS reports:
  • Mean travel time to work
  • Share driving alone/carpooling
  • Work‑from‑home share
  • Place of work vs. residence flows (in‑county vs. out‑of‑county)

Authoritative commuting metrics:

• ACS commuting tables (commute time and mode)
• LEHD OnTheMap for detailed residence–work flow patterns (local employment vs. out‑of‑county work).

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

Burnett County’s small employment base and proximity to other labor markets produces a noticeable out‑commuting pattern. The most accurate measurement is the LEHD OnTheMap inflow/outflow reports, which quantify:

• Residents working inside Burnett County
• Residents commuting to other counties (including cross‑state commuting)
• Nonresidents commuting into Burnett County for work
  Source: LEHD OnTheMap.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

• Burnett County has a high homeownership share relative to urban areas, influenced by single‑family housing stock and seasonal/recreational properties.
• Official tenure (owner vs. renter) rates are published in ACS housing tables:
  • ACS housing tenure (DP04).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value (owner‑occupied) is reported by the ACS (DP04). In rural northern Wisconsin, values are generally below the Wisconsin statewide median, while lakefront properties create a higher‑value segment not fully reflected in median figures.
• Recent trends have followed the broader 2020–2024 Midwest pattern of price growth with limited inventory, with variability by proximity to lakes and recreation corridors (proxy characterization; use ACS year‑over‑year vintages and local sales datasets for quantified trend lines).

Authoritative baseline:

• ACS DP04 (Housing Characteristics) for median value. For market trend confirmation, local REALTOR association summaries and state housing reports are commonly used, but ACS remains the standardized public benchmark.

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent is reported in ACS DP04. Rural counties often show lower median rents than metro Wisconsin, with limited multifamily supply affecting availability and price dispersion. Source: ACS DP04 median gross rent.

Types of housing

Housing stock is predominantly:

• Single‑family detached homes and manufactured homes
• Cabins/seasonal homes near lakes and forested recreational areas
• A smaller share of apartments in village centers (e.g., Siren and Grantsburg) This composition is quantified in ACS “units in structure” distributions (DP04).

Neighborhood characteristics and access to amenities

• Most residences are in rural settings with longer driving times to schools, clinics, and full‑service grocery retail, while the highest amenity access is concentrated in the county’s village centers and along primary state highways.
• Proximity to lakes and recreation areas is a major determinant of housing type and value; school proximity matters most in the village/town centers where schools are located.

Property tax overview

• Wisconsin property taxes are based on local mill rates and assessed values; effective tax burdens vary by town/village and by school district levies.
• County and municipal treasurer offices and Wisconsin Department of Revenue provide the most authoritative overviews of property taxation and levies:
  • Wisconsin Department of Revenue (property tax and assessment resources)
  • Burnett County and local municipality treasurer pages (local levy and billing details)

A single “average property tax rate” is not consistently published as one countywide figure in a way that remains stable across taxing jurisdictions; the most comparable public proxy is the ACS median real estate taxes paid for owner‑occupied housing, available in ACS DP04 via data.census.gov.