94 / 100

Walworth County, WI

RANK #66 / 996  ·  POP 105,127  ·  WI

PROJECTED GROWTH: +3.2%

Walworth County is one of America's fastest-growing metros, with explosive job creation driving its boom.

[01] Why Walworth County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.5x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+1.6%

Below national median

Home Prices
+3.9%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
-2.5

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
16x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Walworth County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
105,127
-0.77% YoY
Median Household Income
$75,172
Median Home Value
$254,300
+3.87% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,034
Average Annual Pay
$50,949
+3.1% YoY
Employment
45,268
+3.9% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2956
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.81%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$399,900
Days on Market
91
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.2
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.7%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
16.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
11.3%
Building Permits (2024)
477
Single-Family Permits
378

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

[05] Capital Investment

$899M
TOTAL
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.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.6% 28 percentile
Population Growth -0.8% 6 percentile
Income Growth +8.3% 45 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.0% 56 percentile
Home Price Change +3.9% 82 percentile
Rent Growth +10.4% 98 percentile
Price/Rent 16x 28 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Walworth County has a Boom Town Index score of 94/100, ranking #66 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.9% and a median household income of $75,172, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Walworth County affordable?

The median home value in Walworth County is $254,300 with median rent at $1,034/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2956, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Walworth County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.9%. Home values changed +3.9% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Walworth County?

Yes — 4.81% of Walworth County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Winnebago County, IL 100 Madison County, NY 100 Oswego County, NY 100 Valencia County, NM 100 Taylor County, TX 100 Allen County, OH 100 Newton County, MO 99 Dodge County, WI 99