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Chippewa County, WI

RANK #176 / 996  ·  POP 66,254  ·  WI

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.2%

Chippewa County ranks among the top U.S. counties across nearly every economic indicator.

[01] Why Chippewa County?

Chippewa County, Wisconsin, is often recognized for its natural beauty and the historic Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, a local landmark since 1867. Located in west-central Wisconsin, about 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the county seat of Chippewa Falls sits along the Chippewa River. The community offers a small-town atmosphere with access to outdoor recreation, including Lake Wissota State Park, which provides opportunities for camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and winter sports. Commute times within the county average around 21.3 minutes, below the national average.

Life in Chippewa County blends rural charm with accessible amenities. Many families reside here, and public schools are generally rated above average. The economy is diverse, with key sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and tourism. Notable employers include Associated Milk Producers Inc., Berry Global, and TTM Technologies Inc. Chippewa Valley Technical College provides training programs that align with local workforce needs. The county's economic development efforts focus on supporting existing businesses and attracting new investment, with initiatives like the Lake Wissota Business Park.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.0%

Below national median

Home Prices
+4.1%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-2.4

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Chippewa County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
66,254
+0.57% YoY
Median Household Income
$69,815
Median Home Value
$215,300
+4.09% 12mo
Median Rent
$918
Average Annual Pay
$53,189
+4.0% YoY
Employment
26,613
+0.9% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3243
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
6.26%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$321,588
Days on Market
96
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.4%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
25.7%
Listings w/ Price Drops
15.8%
Building Permits (2024)
364
Single-Family Permits
190

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.0% 36 percentile
Population Growth +0.6% 56 percentile
Income Growth +10.5% 86 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.3% 99 percentile
Home Price Change +4.1% 84 percentile
Rent Growth -0.8% 6 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 31 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chippewa County, WI a good place to move to?

Chippewa County has a Boom Town Index score of 82/100, ranking #176 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.9% and a median household income of $69,815, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Chippewa County affordable?

The median home value in Chippewa County is $215,300 with median rent at $918/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3243, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Chippewa County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.9%. Home values changed +4.1% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Chippewa County?

Yes — 6.26% of Chippewa County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Erie County, PA 92 Kenosha County, WI 92 DuPage County, IL 92 Cass County, MI 92 Geauga County, OH 92 Champaign County, IL 92 Saratoga County, NY 92 Genesee County, MI 92