Vilas County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Vilas County, Wisconsin had an estimated 23,948 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,044, across 857 square miles. County output reached $1.34 bn in 2024, 961 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 40 7(a) approvals worth $34.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Vilas County
How many people live in Vilas County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,647
- Households11,147
- Average household size2.12
- Median household income$68,431
- Median age55.7
- Median gross rent$847 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$300,000
- Home value to household income4.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher30.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over18,717
- Population under 183,827
- Share under 1816.2 percent
- Population 65 and over7,513
- Share 65 and over31.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6412,307
- Civilian labor force10,967
- Unemployment rate4.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.3 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties49th of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1707th of 3,222
Vilas County is the 49th largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 4.4 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 31.8 percent against 16.2 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.
Vilas County
Is Vilas County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202423,948
- Census 2020 base population23,044
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.92 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202434
- Births, 2024169
- Deaths, 2024351
- Natural change, 2024-182
- Net domestic migration, 2024215
- Net international migration, 20241
- Total net migration, 2024216
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,603
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents706th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.92 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.
Vilas County
Where are people moving to Vilas County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving894
- People arriving, from those returns1,548
- Tax returns filed by households leaving752
- Net household movement142
- Adjusted gross income arriving$112.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$55.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$126,101
- Average income of a leaving household$76,646
- Largest single originOneida County (155 households)
- Largest single destinationOneida County (179 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneida County | 155 | 271 | $8.8 m |
| Waukesha County | 44 | 73 | $6.0 m |
| Dane County | 41 | 70 | $5.4 m |
| Milwaukee County | 37 | 66 | $3.5 m |
| Cook County | 27 | 44 | $2.6 m |
| Winnebago County | 24 | 37 | $1.7 m |
| Marathon County | 23 | 37 | $1.7 m |
| Brown County | 20 | 33 | $2.5 m |
Households arriving report $49,455 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 Oneida 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.
Vilas County
What is the Vilas County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.34 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.29 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years40.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes48th of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1605th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,770
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 40.1 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.
Vilas County
Employment by industry in Vilas County
- Covered employment, annual average8,275
- Establishments reporting1,010
- Average annual pay$45,114
- Average weekly wage$868
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,696
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,670
- Retail trade, employment1,100
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,632
- Construction, employment703
- Construction, average annual pay$67,911
- Manufacturing, employment441
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$47,277
- Health care and social assistance, employment434
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment258
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,696 | 201 | $25,670 |
| Retail trade | 1,100 | 116 | $36,632 |
| Construction | 703 | 168 | $67,911 |
| Manufacturing | 441 | 30 | $47,277 |
| Health care and social assistance | 434 | 69 | $64,415 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 258 | 59 | $48,188 |
| Wholesale trade | 237 | 23 | $58,068 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 218 | 28 | $39,860 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,696 jobs, 20.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Vilas County
How many businesses are in Vilas County?
- Establishments, all industries961
- Employment at those establishments5,887
- Annual payroll$243.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents40.6
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.
Vilas County
Building permits in Vilas County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024341
- Declared construction value permitted$132.6 m
- Single family units authorized287
- Multifamily units authorized54
- Multifamily share of units15.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$388,958
- Units authorized per 1,000 households30.6
Single-family homes are 84.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Vilas County
SBA loans in Vilas County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded40
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$34.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$852,705
- Median 7(a) approval$388,600
- 10th percentile approval$45,960
- 90th percentile approval$2,270,700
- Largest single approval$4,070,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)336
- Jobs per approval8.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active17
- Distinct industries receiving approvals28
- Median 7(a) term240 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer52.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms21
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter17
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals12.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (5)
- Most active lenderIncredibleBank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded15
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.7 m
- Average 504 approval$511,733
- Median 504 approval$420,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval3.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.8
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (15)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$41.8 m
The average approval of $852,705 sits well above the median of $388,600, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 52.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Vilas County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Vilas County
Do SBA loans in Vilas County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure28
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
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.
Vilas County
SBA lending by place in Vilas County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending10
- Eagle River, approvals15
- Saint Germain, approvals6
- Boulder Junction, approvals4
- Manitowish Waters, approvals4
- Land O Lakes, approvals3
- Conover, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle River | 15 | $5,461,000 |
| Saint Germain | 6 | $7,624,300 |
| Boulder Junction | 4 | $5,898,500 |
| Manitowish Waters | 4 | $2,073,500 |
| Land O Lakes | 3 | $5,754,000 |
| Conover | 2 | $5,000,000 |
| Presque Isle | 2 | $665,000 |
| Woodruff | 2 | $415,500 |
| 2 other borrower cities | 2 | $1,216,400 |
Eagle River accounts for 15 approvals against 6 in Saint Germain. 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.
Vilas County
How large is Vilas County?
- Land area857 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties25th of 72
- Width, east to west53.3 mi
- Height, north to south30.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land28
- Establishments per square mile1.12
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.
Vilas County
Flood risk in Vilas County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Vilas County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 550605
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate50.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Vilas 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 Vilas County (community 550605), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Vilas 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. 50.0 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 Vilas 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 Vilas County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,647
- Households11,147
- Average household size2.12
- Median household income$68,431
- Median age55.7
Common questions
Vilas County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Vilas County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 23,948 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 23,647, in 11,147 households, ranking 49th of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Vilas County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.92 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,044, to 23,948 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 169 births against 351 deaths, with net migration of 216. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Vilas County?
$68,431. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $300,000, which is 4.4 times income, and median gross rent is $847 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Vilas County?
961 establishments, employing 5,887 people with an annual payroll of $243.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Vilas County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,696 jobs, 20.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,275 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,114, or $868 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Vilas County?
40 7(a) approvals totaling $34.1 m since FY2020, across 17 lenders, with a median approval of $388,600, plus 15 504 approvals worth $7.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Vilas County?
341 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $132.6 m. Multifamily was 15.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Vilas 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 Vilas County come from?
The largest single origin is Oneida County, with 155 households. Arriving households report an average income of $126,101 against $76,646 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Vilas 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 Vilas 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.
Vilas County
Cities and places in Vilas.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Vilas County. All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle River | city | 1,528 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Lac du Flambeau | CDP | 1,503 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sayner | CDP | 213 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Boulder Junction | CDP | 193 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
A further 20 of the county's 40 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Vilas County, the largest being Saint Germain (6), Manitowish Waters (4), Land O Lakes (3). 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.