Sauk County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Sauk County, Wisconsin had an estimated 66,486 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,772, across 831 square miles. County output reached $5.58 bn in 2024, 1,876 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 31 7(a) approvals worth $17.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Sauk County
How many people live in Sauk County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202466,009
- Households27,987
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$79,541
- Median age41.6
- Median gross rent$1,018 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$258,600
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over46,519
- Population under 1814,752
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over13,140
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6438,117
- Civilian labor force35,357
- Unemployment rate2.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.0 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties25th of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included830th of 3,222
Sauk County is the 25th largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 19.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Sauk County
Is Sauk County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202466,486
- Census 2020 base population65,772
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.09 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024343
- Births, 2024729
- Deaths, 2024743
- Natural change, 2024-14
- Net domestic migration, 202458
- Net international migration, 2024299
- Total net migration, 2024357
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202432
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1450th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.09 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.
Sauk County
Where are people moving to Sauk County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,812
- People arriving, from those returns3,022
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,823
- Net household movement-11
- Adjusted gross income arriving$140.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$41.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$77,760
- Average income of a leaving household$54,379
- Largest single originDane County (447 households)
- Largest single destinationDane County (356 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | 447 | 682 | $31.1 m |
| Columbia County | 209 | 357 | $8.6 m |
| Juneau County | 90 | 155 | $3.4 m |
| Richland County | 66 | 126 | $3.3 m |
| Adams County | 59 | 104 | $2.6 m |
| Iowa County | 39 | 74 | $2.1 m |
| Cook County | 31 | 47 | $2.7 m |
| Milwaukee County | 29 | 45 | $2.3 m |
Households arriving report $23,381 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Dane 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.
Sauk County
What is the Sauk County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.58 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.37 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.8 percent
- GDP change over five years39.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes20th of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes671st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$84,492
Output grew 3.8 percent in the latest year and 39.2 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.
Sauk County
Employment by industry in Sauk County
- Covered employment, annual average36,498
- Establishments reporting2,219
- Average annual pay$50,177
- Average weekly wage$965
- Accommodation and food services, employment7,525
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,241
- Manufacturing, employment5,361
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,437
- Retail trade, employment5,015
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,426
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,061
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,311
- Construction, employment2,024
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment1,267
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 7,525 | 274 | $28,241 |
| Manufacturing | 5,361 | 103 | $61,437 |
| Retail trade | 5,015 | 280 | $31,426 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,061 | 307 | $67,311 |
| Construction | 2,024 | 234 | $74,774 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,267 | 138 | $69,534 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,131 | 70 | $62,076 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 969 | 58 | $29,103 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 7,525 jobs, 20.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Sauk County
How many businesses are in Sauk County?
- Establishments, all industries1,876
- Employment at those establishments31,025
- Annual payroll$1.56 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents28.4
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.
Sauk County
Building permits in Sauk County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024539
- Declared construction value permitted$126.3 m
- Single family units authorized195
- Multifamily units authorized344
- Multifamily share of units63.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$234,364
- Units authorized per 1,000 households19.3
Multifamily is 63.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Sauk County
SBA loans in Sauk County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded31
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$17.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$555,135
- Median 7(a) approval$272,800
- 10th percentile approval$46,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,000,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)387
- Jobs per approval12.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals28
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer29.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter21
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals3.2 percent
- Most active lenderBank of Wisconsin Dells (4)
- 504 approvals recorded59
- 504 gross approval dollars$48.3 m
- Average 504 approval$819,017
- Median 504 approval$561,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval10.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.0
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (59)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$65.5 m
The average approval of $555,135 sits well above the median of $272,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 29.0 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.
Sauk County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Sauk County
Do SBA loans in Sauk County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure20
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 6 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.
Sauk County
SBA lending by place in Sauk County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Baraboo, approvals9
- Prairie du Sac, approvals5
- Wisconsin Dells, approvals5
- Sauk City, approvals4
- Reedsburg, approvals4
- Spring Green, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Baraboo | 9 | $2,217,400 |
| Prairie du Sac | 5 | $7,613,900 |
| Wisconsin Dells | 5 | $1,579,500 |
| Sauk City | 4 | $3,231,000 |
| Reedsburg | 4 | $1,470,100 |
| Spring Green | 2 | $313,600 |
| Plain | 1 | $733,700 |
| North Freedom | 1 | $50,000 |
Baraboo accounts for 9 approvals against 5 in Prairie du Sac. 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.
Sauk County
How large is Sauk County?
- Land area831 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties27th of 72
- Width, east to west35.8 mi
- Height, north to south32.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land79
- Establishments per square mile2.26
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.
Sauk County
Flood risk in Sauk County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Sauk County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 550391
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book18
- Of those, participating in the NFIP18
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Sauk 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 Sauk County (community 550391), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Sauk 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 Sauk 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 Sauk County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202466,009
- Households27,987
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$79,541
- Median age41.6
Common questions
Sauk County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Sauk County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 66,486 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 66,009, in 27,987 households, ranking 25th of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Sauk County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.09 percent since the 2020 census base of 65,772, to 66,486 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 729 births against 743 deaths, with net migration of 357. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Sauk County?
$79,541. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $258,600, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,018 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Sauk County?
1,876 establishments, employing 31,025 people with an annual payroll of $1.56 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 Sauk County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 7,525 jobs, 20.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 36,498 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,177, or $965 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Sauk County?
31 7(a) approvals totaling $17.2 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $272,800, plus 59 504 approvals worth $48.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Sauk County?
539 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $126.3 m. Multifamily was 63.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Sauk 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 Sauk County come from?
The largest single origin is Dane County, with 447 households. Arriving households report an average income of $77,760 against $54,379 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Sauk 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 Sauk 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.
Sauk County
Cities and places in Sauk.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in Sauk County. All 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo | city | 12,769 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Reedsburg | city | 10,168 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Wisconsin | CDP | 5,384 | None recorded | 2.3 percent here, 97.7 percent Columbia County |
| Prairie du Sac | village | 4,382 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Sauk City | village | 3,483 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Delton | village | 3,482 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wisconsin Dells | city | 2,547 | 5 | 28.8 percent here, 44.7 percent Columbia County, 21.2 percent Adams County, 5.3 percent Juneau County |
| West Baraboo | village | 1,577 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Green | village | 1,397 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Plain | village | 780 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| North Freedom | village | 716 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Merrimac | village | 570 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bluffview | CDP | 542 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| La Valle | village | 326 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rock Springs | village | 323 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ironton | village | 271 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lime Ridge | village | 263 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Loganville | village | 252 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby