RANK #54 / 996 · POP 52,361 · WI
PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.4%
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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.
Calumet County has a Boom Town Index score of 95/100, ranking #54 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.8% and a median household income of $84,151, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Calumet County is $234,000 with median rent at $948/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3596, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.8%. Home values changed +7.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.01% of Calumet County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.