Manitowoc County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin had an estimated 81,513 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 81,380, across 589 square miles. County output reached $5.40 bn in 2024, 1,726 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 139 7(a) approvals worth $71.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Manitowoc County
How many people live in Manitowoc County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202481,406
- Households35,188
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$69,148
- Median age45.1
- Median gross rent$797 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$186,900
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over59,083
- Population under 1816,492
- Share under 1820.3 percent
- Population 65 and over18,118
- Share 65 and over22.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6446,796
- Civilian labor force41,452
- Unemployment rate2.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.9 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties21st of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included717th of 3,222
Manitowoc County is the 21st largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.3 percent against 20.3 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Manitowoc County
Is Manitowoc County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202481,513
- Census 2020 base population81,380
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024188
- Births, 2024690
- Deaths, 2024932
- Natural change, 2024-242
- Net domestic migration, 2024214
- Net international migration, 2024218
- Total net migration, 2024432
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024635
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1771st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.16 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Manitowoc County
Where are people moving to Manitowoc County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,541
- People arriving, from those returns2,609
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,547
- Net household movement-6
- Adjusted gross income arriving$87.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-11.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$56,771
- Average income of a leaving household$64,003
- Largest single originSheboygan County (221 households)
- Largest single destinationSheboygan County (232 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan County | 221 | 401 | $13.4 m |
| Brown County | 211 | 369 | $10.8 m |
| Calumet County | 128 | 223 | $7.6 m |
| Milwaukee County | 81 | 131 | $4.6 m |
| Winnebago County | 45 | 73 | $2.1 m |
| Outagamie County | 43 | 66 | $2.3 m |
| Fond du Lac County | 36 | 57 | $1.6 m |
| Dane County | 35 | 47 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $7,232 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Sheboygan County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Manitowoc County
What is the Manitowoc County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.40 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.16 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.7 percent
- GDP change over five years31.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes21st of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes681st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$66,362
Output grew 4.7 percent in the latest year and 31.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Manitowoc County
Employment by industry in Manitowoc County
- Covered employment, annual average33,444
- Establishments reporting1,990
- Average annual pay$53,550
- Average weekly wage$1,030
- Manufacturing, employment9,600
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$62,446
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,297
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$52,328
- Retail trade, employment3,537
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,512
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,351
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$17,776
- Construction, employment1,404
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,376
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 9,600 | 171 | $62,446 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,297 | 299 | $52,328 |
| Retail trade | 3,537 | 217 | $32,512 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,351 | 174 | $17,776 |
| Construction | 1,404 | 184 | $69,355 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,376 | 98 | $49,633 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,200 | 90 | $42,124 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 1,099 | 84 | $42,451 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,600 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Manitowoc County
How many businesses are in Manitowoc County?
- Establishments, all industries1,726
- Employment at those establishments28,889
- Annual payroll$1.45 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Manitowoc County
Building permits in Manitowoc County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024112
- Declared construction value permitted$46.0 m
- Single family units authorized96
- Multifamily units authorized16
- Multifamily share of units14.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$411,157
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.2
Single-family homes are 85.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Manitowoc County
SBA loans in Manitowoc County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded139
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$71.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$513,732
- Median 7(a) approval$220,500
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,365,540
- Largest single approval$4,541,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,357
- Jobs per approval9.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals70
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms36
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter96
- Franchise loans16
- Franchise share of approvals11.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countMachine Shops (10)
- Most active lenderNicolet National Bank (40)
- 504 approvals recorded32
- 504 gross approval dollars$49.2 m
- Average 504 approval$1,536,563
- Median 504 approval$997,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval51.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved33.7
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (29)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$120.6 m
The average approval of $513,732 sits well above the median of $220,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 25.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Manitowoc County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Manitowoc County
Do SBA loans in Manitowoc County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded29
- Paid in full28
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure98
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Paid in full28
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 29 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Manitowoc County
SBA lending by place in Manitowoc County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- Manitowoc, approvals73
- Two Rivers, approvals23
- Kiel, approvals18
- Reedsville, approvals6
- Mishicot, approvals4
- Whitelaw, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc | 73 | $37,842,300 |
| Two Rivers | 23 | $13,375,900 |
| Kiel | 18 | $12,867,200 |
| Reedsville | 6 | $1,113,100 |
| Mishicot | 4 | $694,600 |
| Whitelaw | 4 | $484,700 |
| Cato | 3 | $1,100,000 |
| Valders | 3 | $1,005,000 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 5 | $2,926,000 |
Manitowoc accounts for 73 approvals against 23 in Two Rivers. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Manitowoc County
How large is Manitowoc County?
- Land area589 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties48th of 72
- Width, east to west26.6 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land138
- Establishments per square mile2.93
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Manitowoc County
Flood risk in Manitowoc County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Manitowoc County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 550236
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate90.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Manitowoc County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Manitowoc County (community 550236), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Manitowoc County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 90.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Manitowoc County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Manitowoc County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202481,406
- Households35,188
- Average household size2.31
- Median household income$69,148
- Median age45.1
Common questions
Manitowoc County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 81,513 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 81,406, in 35,188 households, ranking 21st of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Manitowoc County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 81,380, to 81,513 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 690 births against 932 deaths, with net migration of 432. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Manitowoc County?
$69,148. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $186,900, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $797 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Manitowoc County?
1,726 establishments, employing 28,889 people with an annual payroll of $1.45 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Manitowoc County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,600 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 33,444 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,550, or $1,030 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Manitowoc County?
139 7(a) approvals totaling $71.4 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $220,500, plus 32 504 approvals worth $49.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Manitowoc County?
112 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $46.0 m. Multifamily was 14.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Manitowoc County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Manitowoc County come from?
The largest single origin is Sheboygan County, with 221 households. Arriving households report an average income of $56,771 against $64,003 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Manitowoc County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Manitowoc County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Manitowoc County
Cities and places in Manitowoc.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Manitowoc County. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc | city | 34,620 | 73 | Wholly in this county |
| Two Rivers | city | 11,231 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Kiel | city | 3,943 | 18 | 84.2 percent here, 15.8 percent Calumet County |
| Cleveland | village | 1,676 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Mishicot | village | 1,450 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Reedsville | village | 1,099 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Nazianz | village | 907 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Valders | village | 873 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Whitelaw | village | 862 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Francis Creek | village | 627 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maribel | village | 370 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Kellnersville | village | 254 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Collins | CDP | 249 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clarks Mills | CDP | 87 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 139 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Manitowoc County, the largest being Cato (3), Newton (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby