Oconto County is located in northeastern Wisconsin, stretching from the Green Bay shoreline on Lake Michigan north into the forested uplands of the Northwoods. Established in 1851 and named for the Oconto River, the county developed around early lumbering and river-based transport, later diversifying into manufacturing and outdoor-based recreation. It is small in population, with about 38,000 residents, and remains predominantly rural, with a mix of small cities, villages, and unincorporated communities. The landscape includes Great Lakes coastline, the Oconto and Peshtigo river systems, extensive woodlands, and agricultural areas in the southern portion. The local economy is shaped by manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, and tourism tied to fishing, hunting, and seasonal lake and river activities. Cultural life reflects a blend of small-town institutions and Northwoods heritage. The county seat is Oconto.

Oconto County Local Demographic Profile

Oconto County is in northeastern Wisconsin along the western shore of Green Bay, bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via the bay and lying north of Brown County (Green Bay). For local government and planning resources, visit the Oconto County official website.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Oconto County, Wisconsin, the county had a population of 37,930 (2020).

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Oconto County, Wisconsin (based on the American Community Survey), the age structure is summarized by:

  • Persons under 5 years: 4.7%
  • Persons under 18 years: 20.3%
  • Persons 65 years and over: 25.5%

The same source reports the gender distribution as:

  • Female persons: 49.5%
  • Male persons: 50.5% (calculated as the remainder)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Oconto County, Wisconsin (ACS), the racial and ethnic composition includes:

  • White alone: 94.4%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.8%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 1.3%
  • Asian alone: 0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.0%
  • Two or more races: 2.9%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.2%

Household and Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Oconto County, Wisconsin (ACS), key household and housing indicators include:

  • Households: 16,401
  • Persons per household: 2.23
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 82.1%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing unit: $168,100
  • Median gross rent: $788
  • Housing units: 24,746
  • Building permits (average annual, 2021–2023): 188

Email Usage

Oconto County’s largely rural geography and low population density, combined with forested areas and long last‑mile distances, can constrain fixed-network buildout and make digital communication (including email) more dependent on available broadband and device access.

Direct county-level email usage rates are not routinely published, so email adoption is summarized using proxy indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), especially broadband subscription and computer access, which are closely tied to routine email use. Relevant county profiles and tables are accessible via data.census.gov (e.g., “Selected Social Characteristics,” “Computer and Internet Use,” and age/sex distributions).

Age distribution influences likely email adoption because older populations generally show lower rates of home broadband subscription and some forms of online activity; ACS age structure for Oconto County provides the primary proxy for this effect. Gender distribution is measurable in ACS but is typically less predictive of email access than age and connectivity, so it is secondary.

Connectivity limitations are commonly indicated by broadband subscription gaps and rural infrastructure constraints; local planning and service context can be referenced through Oconto County government resources.

Mobile Phone Usage

Oconto County is in northeastern Wisconsin along the western shore of Green Bay and includes a mix of small cities (e.g., Oconto, Oconto Falls) and extensive rural and forested areas. The county’s relatively low population density, dispersed housing, and coverage-challenging land cover (forests, wetlands, and shoreline/river corridors) are characteristics that commonly affect mobile signal reach and in-building performance, especially away from major highways and population centers.

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

Network availability describes where mobile networks (4G/5G) are reported to be serviceable. Household adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and how they use it (smartphones, mobile broadband plans, mobile-only internet, etc.). County-level adoption statistics are often available only through sample-based surveys or modeled estimates, while coverage layers are usually carrier-reported and mapped.

Mobile penetration / access indicators (where available)

  • Direct county-level “mobile penetration” (e.g., percent of residents with a mobile subscription) is not consistently published as an official statistic for Oconto County. National surveys typically report at the state level or by metro/non-metro categories rather than every county.
  • Proxy indicators from federal surveys
    • The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) publishes county-level estimates on internet subscriptions and device access (including whether a household has a smartphone). These estimates describe household adoption, not network availability. Relevant tables and methodology are available via the U.S. Census Bureau and data.census.gov resources (see: data.census.gov (ACS tables and county profiles) and American Community Survey (ACS) program documentation).
    • The ACS “computer and internet use” subject tables can be used to quantify households with:
      • Smartphones
      • Cellular data plans
      • Any internet subscription (cable, fiber, DSL, cellular, satellite, etc.)
  • Broadband planning datasets
    • Wisconsin’s broadband office resources compile statewide planning data that may include county-level views of broadband access and adoption (generally stronger for fixed broadband than mobile adoption). See Public Service Commission of Wisconsin broadband programs for statewide context and links to mapping and reports.

Limitation: Without citing a specific ACS table extract for Oconto County in this overview, definitive county percentages for smartphone ownership or cellular-data-plan subscriptions are not stated here.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G availability)

4G LTE availability (network coverage)

  • The most standardized public source for mobile coverage reporting is the FCC’s mobile broadband availability data and map tools. These datasets represent reported availability (coverage claims), not measured speeds everywhere.
  • FCC resources for coverage and availability include:

In rural counties such as Oconto, 4G LTE is typically the baseline mobile layer across most populated corridors, with coverage quality varying by carrier, terrain/vegetation, and distance from towers. However, carrier-reported polygons do not by themselves establish consistent indoor coverage at a specific address.

5G availability (network coverage)

  • The FCC National Broadband Map also includes 5G availability layers. For counties with a mix of small towns and extensive rural land, 5G availability commonly appears concentrated near towns, major roads, and higher-demand areas, with more limited reach in remote/forested zones.
  • Important distinction among 5G types: Public coverage layers may not clearly communicate whether 5G is low-band (broader coverage, modest gains), mid-band (balance of coverage/capacity), or high-band/mmWave (very localized). Carrier-specific disclosures are typically required for that level of detail, and address-level performance varies.

Actual mobile internet use (behavior)

County-level statistics that directly quantify “mobile internet usage patterns” (time spent, share of traffic on cellular vs Wi‑Fi, prevalence of mobile-only households) are generally not published as official metrics at the county scale. The ACS can indicate adoption of cellular data plans and smartphones, which are indirect measures of potential mobile internet reliance, but it does not measure 4G vs 5G usage.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Household device access (smartphone vs. desktop/laptop/tablet) is measurable using ACS device questions, which distinguish:
    • Smartphone presence
    • Other computing devices (desktop/laptop, tablet)
  • In rural counties, smartphones often serve as the most ubiquitous personal computing device, while tablets/laptops may be less evenly distributed and more tied to income, age, and household composition. This is a general demographic pattern documented in national surveys, but a county-specific split should be sourced from an ACS table extract for Oconto County rather than inferred.

Primary sources for device/internet adoption concepts and definitions:

Limitation: Without enumerating the specific ACS table IDs and values for Oconto County in this overview, device-type shares are described only in terms of what can be measured, not exact percentages.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage and connectivity

Rural settlement pattern and tower economics (availability vs. adoption)

  • Availability: Lower density and dispersed homes increase per-user infrastructure costs and can reduce the number of cell sites, which can lead to larger coverage gaps and weaker indoor signals in outlying areas.
  • Adoption: Even where coverage exists, household decisions about subscribing to a mobile plan or relying on mobile-only service are influenced by income, age, employment, and whether reliable fixed broadband is available.

Land cover and terrain

  • Oconto County’s forests and wetland/shoreline environments can attenuate radio signals and contribute to variable reception, particularly for higher-frequency services and for indoor coverage. Mapping products typically do not capture tree canopy and building-specific attenuation at a fine-grained level.

Transportation corridors and community centers

  • Mobile network buildout and performance commonly track:
    • Town centers and higher-population areas
    • Major road corridors
    • Tourism/recreation nodes near water access and public lands
      This affects availability (where signals are stronger) and use patterns (where people can reliably stream, work remotely, or use navigation).

Age structure and household composition (adoption)

  • ACS-based measures can be used to compare Oconto County with Wisconsin overall for:
    • Smartphone presence
    • Any internet subscription
    • Cellular data plan subscription
      These are adoption measures and do not indicate that 5G is used even where available.

Practical sources for county-specific verification

Data limitations specific to Oconto County

  • County-specific mobile “penetration” is not typically released as an official, directly comparable metric across carriers; adoption is best approximated through ACS household measures (smartphone presence, cellular data plan subscriptions), which are sample-based and subject to margins of error.
  • FCC mobile availability layers are based on provider-reported coverage and are not equivalent to address-level service quality, indoor coverage, or consistent throughput.
  • Public datasets generally do not provide county-level breakdowns of actual 4G vs 5G usage share, device model mix, or app-level mobile internet behavior.

Social Media Trends

Oconto County is in northeastern Wisconsin along the Lake Michigan shoreline, with Oconto as the county seat and population centers such as Oconto, Oconto Falls, and Lena. The county’s mix of small-city hubs, rural townships, outdoor recreation, and manufacturing/forestry-linked employment tends to align with social media use patterns typical of smaller Midwestern counties: broad overall adoption, heavier use among younger and midlife adults, and platform preferences oriented toward utility (local news, community groups, messaging) and entertainment (short-form video).

User statistics (penetration / active use)

  • County-level social media penetration is not published in a standardized, official series (e.g., no routine county-by-county measure from the U.S. Census Bureau).
  • State and national benchmarks are commonly used for counties:
    • U.S. adults: Approximately 69% report using at least one social media site (Pew Research Center). See Pew Research Center’s Social Media Fact Sheet.
    • Wisconsin adult internet access (a key prerequisite): Wisconsin household internet subscription rates are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS). County-level connectivity varies, and rural areas often show lower broadband subscription than statewide averages. See U.S. Census Bureau data (data.census.gov) (search: “Oconto County WI internet subscription”).
  • Practical interpretation for Oconto County: Given typical rural-county patterns, overall social media use among adults is generally expected to be similar to national levels but constrained by age structure and broadband availability, particularly outside municipal centers.

Age group trends

National survey results provide the most reliable age-pattern signal used to interpret local areas:

  • Highest use: Ages 18–29 (dominant across most major platforms; especially Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok).
  • High use: Ages 30–49 (heavy Facebook use; substantial YouTube and Instagram use).
  • Moderate use: Ages 50–64 (Facebook and YouTube dominate; lower Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok).
  • Lowest use: 65+ (Facebook and YouTube remain the primary platforms; lower adoption elsewhere).
    Source: Pew Research Center social media use by age.

Gender breakdown

National patterns (used as the standard reference in the absence of county-specific survey series):

  • Women are more likely than men to report using Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and are often more active in community- and relationship-oriented interactions.
  • Men are more likely than women to report using platforms such as Reddit and show relatively higher usage of some discussion/news-forward platforms.
    Source: Pew Research Center breakdowns by gender.

Most-used platforms (benchmarks; local adoption typically follows these rankings)

Reliable platform shares are available at the national level (U.S. adults), commonly used as a proxy ranking for counties:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

Patterns documented in large surveys that typically characterize smaller counties such as Oconto County:

  • Facebook remains the central “local community” platform for events, community updates, buy/sell groups, and municipal/school information sharing, reflecting its broad age coverage and group functionality (Pew platform reach data: Pew social media fact sheet).
  • YouTube functions as the broadest cross-age channel, used for how-to content, entertainment, local-interest video, and news consumption; it often reaches residents who use few other platforms (Pew platform reach).
  • Short-form video skews younger, with TikTok and Snapchat concentrated among younger adults; usage drops sharply in older age bands (Pew age-by-platform patterns).
  • Messaging and private sharing are significant alongside public posting, with more social interaction occurring in comments, groups, and direct messages rather than public status updates (broadly consistent with platform feature usage trends described in major research summaries, including Pew).
  • Local information discovery often blends social and search, with residents using Facebook Groups and local pages for real-time updates and YouTube for explanatory content; this is reinforced where local newsrooms are smaller and community networks substitute for centralized coverage (contextualized by platform reach and usage frequency in Pew’s social media reporting).

Family & Associates Records

Oconto County maintains family-related vital records, including certified records of births and deaths, as well as marriage and divorce records, through the county Register of Deeds under Wisconsin’s vital records system. Adoption records are generally not maintained as open public records at the county level; adoption case files and related court records are typically confidential and handled through the courts and state processes.

Public database access is primarily provided through statewide systems rather than county-run searchable portals for vital records. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Vital Records Office provides statewide ordering information and eligibility rules for certified copies (Wisconsin DHS Vital Records). Oconto County provides local office contact and service information via the Register of Deeds page (Oconto County Register of Deeds).

Records access occurs online via the state’s authorized ordering service and by in-person or mail requests through the Oconto County Register of Deeds. For family and associate context in property matters, recorded documents (deeds, mortgages) are available through the county Register of Deeds and the county land records portal (Oconto County Land Information).

Privacy restrictions apply to many vital records: Wisconsin limits access to certified birth and death certificates to eligible requesters and may impose waiting periods and identification requirements. Court-related family records are accessed through the Clerk of Courts, with confidential case types restricted (Oconto County Clerk of Courts).

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

Marriage records

  • Marriage license and marriage certificate (local record): Issued by the Oconto County Register of Deeds for marriages occurring in Oconto County. Wisconsin requires a marriage license before a marriage can occur; the county maintains the official record associated with the event.
  • State marriage record (vital record): A statewide record is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Vital Records Office based on county reporting.

Divorce and annulment records

  • Divorce judgments/decrees (court record): Divorce actions (including the final judgment) are maintained as circuit court case records in Oconto County.
  • Annulments: Annulment actions are also maintained as circuit court case records. Wisconsin treats annulment as a court proceeding; the resulting judgment and case file are held by the circuit court.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Marriage records (Oconto County)

  • Filed/maintained by: Oconto County Register of Deeds (marriage licenses and county marriage records).
  • Access methods (typical):
    • In-person and mail/other request methods through the Register of Deeds office.
    • State copies may be requested from the Wisconsin DHS Vital Records Office.
  • Index/search access: Many Wisconsin counties provide searchable indexes or lookup assistance; availability and scope depend on local practices.

Divorce and annulment records (Oconto County)

  • Filed/maintained by: Oconto County Circuit Court (court case files, judgments, and related pleadings). The Clerk of Circuit Court is the records custodian for case files.
  • Access methods (typical):
    • Public access to case information and some documents may be available through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP), the statewide case management public access system.
    • Full case files and certified copies of judgments are obtained through the Oconto County Clerk of Circuit Court, commonly via in-person or written request, subject to any sealing/confidentiality rules.
  • State-level “divorce certificates”: Wisconsin DHS Vital Records maintains divorce data as a vital record, but the circuit court record is the authoritative source for the judgment.

Typical information included in these records

Marriage license / marriage record

Common elements include:

  • Full names of the parties (including prior/maiden names where recorded)
  • Dates and places of birth; age
  • Residence addresses and/or county/state of residence
  • Date the license was issued; date and place of marriage (ceremony location)
  • Officiant name/title and certification/return information
  • Witness information (where recorded)
  • Prior marital status (single/divorced/widowed) and number of prior marriages (where recorded)
  • Parents’ names and/or birthplaces (often included on Wisconsin marriage records, depending on form/version)

Divorce decree / judgment (court record)

Common elements include:

  • Case caption (party names) and case number
  • Filing date and date of final judgment
  • Basis for the court’s authority and findings consistent with Wisconsin family law procedure
  • Orders addressing:
    • Dissolution of the marriage
    • Legal custody/physical placement and parenting time (when applicable)
    • Child support and financial support orders (when applicable)
    • Maintenance (spousal support), property division, and allocation of debts
    • Name change orders (when granted)
  • Supporting case documents (in the case file) often include pleadings, financial disclosures, affidavits, and stipulations, subject to confidentiality rules

Annulment judgment (court record)

Common elements include:

  • Case caption and case number
  • Filing date and date of judgment
  • Court findings and legal conclusions supporting annulment under Wisconsin law
  • Orders addressing legal status of the parties and any related issues such as property, support, and children, when applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

Marriage records

  • Public access: Marriage records are generally treated as public records in Wisconsin and may be requested from the county Register of Deeds or the state Vital Records office.
  • Certified copies: Certified copies are issued according to Wisconsin vital records rules and typically require required fees and identification/eligibility compliance as set by state and local policy.

Divorce and annulment (court) records

  • Presumption of public access with exceptions: Wisconsin court records are generally open to public inspection, but certain information is confidential or restricted by statute and court rule.
  • Common restrictions include:
    • Sealed records: A court may seal parts of a file or limit access by order.
    • Confidential information: Specific categories (such as certain financial account identifiers, Social Security numbers, details protected in cases involving minors, or protected addresses in safety-related circumstances) may be redacted, confidential, or restricted.
    • Family court confidentiality provisions: Some documents filed in family cases may be confidential by law or rule, even when the docket and certain filings remain viewable.
  • Access systems limitations: Online access systems typically exclude sealed/confidential documents and may provide limited document images; the official record remains the circuit court file.

Official custodians (Oconto County and Wisconsin)

  • Oconto County Register of Deeds: Custodian for marriage license/record filed in Oconto County.
  • Oconto County Clerk of Circuit Court (Circuit Court): Custodian for divorce and annulment case files and judgments.
  • Wisconsin DHS Vital Records Office: State custodian for statewide vital records (including marriage and divorce data).

Education, Employment and Housing

Oconto County is in northeastern Wisconsin on the western shore of Green Bay, bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region by proximity and serving as a mix of small cities (notably Oconto and Oconto Falls), villages, and rural townships. The county has an older-than-average age profile for Wisconsin and a dispersed settlement pattern outside the Highway 41/141 corridor, with community life centered on school districts, manufacturing employers, health services, and outdoor recreation areas.

Education Indicators

Public school districts and schools (public)

Oconto County public K–12 education is delivered primarily through several school districts. A countywide, school-by-school roster changes periodically; the most stable public-school anchors include:

  • Oconto Unified School District (Oconto): Oconto High School and associated middle/elementary schools
  • Oconto Falls Public School District (Oconto Falls): Oconto Falls High School and associated middle/elementary schools
  • Lena Public School District (Lena): Lena High School and associated schools
  • Suring Public School District (Suring): Suring High School and associated schools
  • Portions of the county are also served by neighboring districts (border areas), which can include regional attendance outside county lines.

For the most current official list of districts and schools, use the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) district/school directory (DPI school and district directories) and district report cards (Wisconsin school and district report cards).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: A single countywide ratio is not published as a standard KPI; ratios vary meaningfully by district and grade band (elementary versus secondary) and tend to be lower in smaller rural districts. The most defensible proxy for Oconto County is district-level staffing and enrollment reported through DPI accountability and enrollment datasets (DPI accountability data).
  • Graduation rates: Wisconsin reports 4-year (and extended-year) cohort graduation rates at the district and school level through DPI report cards. Oconto County districts generally align with rural-to-small-city patterns in Wisconsin, with graduation rates commonly in the high-80s to mid-90s percent range depending on district and year; the authoritative figures are in the most recent DPI report cards for each high school (DPI report cards).

(Note: county-aggregated student–teacher ratio and graduation metrics are not consistently published as a single county statistic; DPI school/district report cards are the primary source.)

Adult education levels (countywide)

Adult educational attainment is available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). In Oconto County, attainment is typical of nonmetropolitan northeastern Wisconsin:

  • High school diploma or higher: the large majority of adults (generally around nine in ten in recent ACS profiles)
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: below the Wisconsin statewide share, reflecting a workforce with substantial skilled trades and production employment

The most recent county profile for educational attainment is available via the U.S. Census Bureau ACS “QuickFacts” page for Oconto County (Oconto County, Wisconsin (QuickFacts)).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

Program availability varies by district, but common offerings in Oconto County districts and the region include:

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways (manufacturing, construction, welding, business, family/consumer sciences), often supported through regional technical college partnerships (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a common provider in the broader area; program access depends on district agreements).
  • Advanced Placement (AP) / dual credit: typically offered at the high school level in larger districts; smaller districts may emphasize dual credit/Start College Now-style coursework rather than a broad AP catalog.
    Authoritative program listings are maintained by each district and reflected in DPI report-card context and course catalogs rather than in a standardized county table.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Wisconsin public schools commonly implement layered safety practices:

  • Secure entry/visitor management, controlled access during school hours, and coordinated emergency operations aligned with district safety plans
  • School resource officer (SRO) or law enforcement partnerships in some communities
  • Student services teams (school counselors; in some districts, school social workers or psychologists shared across buildings), with referral pathways to county/community mental health providers

District policy details are typically published in board policies and student handbooks; statewide context is available through DPI school safety resources (Wisconsin DPI school safety).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent available)

The most current official unemployment rates for counties are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) and Wisconsin workforce agencies. Oconto County’s unemployment is typically near the Wisconsin average, with seasonal variation due to tourism/recreation and construction. The definitive latest annual and monthly values are available via BLS LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics) and Wisconsin labor market information portals.

(Note: a single “most recent year” value depends on the latest finalized annual average; BLS LAUS is the authoritative source.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Oconto County’s employment base reflects northeastern Wisconsin’s mix of:

  • Manufacturing (notably wood products/paper-related supply chains, metal fabrication, and related production)
  • Health care and social assistance (clinics, nursing/assisted living, community services)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (serving local demand and seasonal visitors)
  • Construction (residential, infrastructure, and seasonal work)
  • Public administration and education (county/municipal services and school districts)

County industry composition can be verified using Census “County Business Patterns” (County Business Patterns) and ACS employment-by-industry tables.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational structure typically skews toward:

  • Production and transportation/material moving (manufacturing and logistics-related roles)
  • Construction and extraction
  • Office/administrative support, sales, and service occupations (healthcare support, food service, retail)
  • Management and professional roles concentrated in healthcare, education, and business services

The most consistent public proxy is ACS “Occupation” tables and Census profiles rather than a single county workforce report.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Commuting in Oconto County is characterized by:

  • Predominantly car-based commuting with limited fixed-route transit outside small-city cores
  • Out-commuting to regional job centers, particularly toward the Green Bay metro area (Brown County) and industrial corridors along major highways
  • Mean one-way commute times that are generally in the low-to-mid 20-minute range (typical for mixed rural/small-city counties in the region), with longer commutes common in rural townships

Definitive commute metrics (mean travel time to work and mode share) are available via ACS in Census QuickFacts and detailed tables (Oconto County commute and labor-force indicators (QuickFacts)).

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Like many small counties adjacent to larger employment centers, Oconto County has:

  • A substantial share of residents working within the county in manufacturing, healthcare, schools, and local services
  • A meaningful share commuting out of county for higher-density employment (especially toward Green Bay)

The best available standardized source for residence-to-workplace flows is the Census Bureau’s LEHD/OnTheMap tools (OnTheMap commuting flows), which quantify in-county versus out-of-county commuting.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

Oconto County’s housing tenure reflects a rural/small-city profile:

  • Homeownership: high relative to urban counties (commonly around three-quarters of occupied units in recent ACS profiles)
  • Renting: the remainder, concentrated in Oconto, Oconto Falls, and village centers

The most recent tenure shares are published in Census QuickFacts/ACS (Oconto County housing tenure (QuickFacts)).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median owner-occupied home value: below major-metro Wisconsin levels, with increases since 2020 consistent with statewide price appreciation and limited rural inventory.
  • Recent trends in northeastern Wisconsin include rising values and constrained supply, especially for well-located homes near lakes/rivers or with easy highway access.

The most defensible, regularly updated median value metric for the county is ACS (5-year) via QuickFacts (Median value of owner-occupied housing units (QuickFacts)). Market-sale trends are also tracked by regional Realtor associations, but ACS provides the standardized public benchmark.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: generally below large-city Wisconsin markets, with higher rents in newer or limited-supply multifamily stock and lower rents in older small-city/village inventory.

The standardized county median gross rent is available via ACS QuickFacts (Median gross rent (QuickFacts)).

Types of housing

Housing stock is dominated by:

  • Single-family detached homes (including older housing in Oconto and Oconto Falls and newer rural subdivisions)
  • Manufactured housing in some townships and on rural lots
  • Small multifamily buildings and apartments concentrated in city/village centers
  • Seasonal/recreational properties near waterways and forest/recreation areas, which can reduce year-round rental availability in some submarkets

Neighborhood characteristics and access to amenities

  • The most walkable access to schools, parks, and civic amenities is typically in Oconto and Oconto Falls near school campuses and downtown corridors.
  • Rural neighborhoods offer larger lots and proximity to outdoor recreation but generally require driving for schools, groceries, and health services.
  • Highway-adjacent areas often provide easier regional commuting toward Green Bay and other employment nodes.

Property tax overview

Wisconsin property taxes vary by municipality and school district levy. Oconto County homeowners typically face:

  • Effective tax rates that are often around the low-to-mid 1% range of assessed value (a common Wisconsin benchmark), with meaningful variation by city/village/town and school district levies.
  • Typical annual tax bills that scale with assessed value; bills are usually higher in incorporated areas with more services and lower in some rural towns, though school levies can offset differences.

For authoritative local rates and bills, use the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) property tax data and rates (Wisconsin DOR property tax information) and municipal assessor/treasurer publications for the specific jurisdiction. (Countywide “average” effective rates are not a single fixed number because levies are set at multiple overlapping levels.)

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Wisconsin