Forest County's composite score of 69.3 beats the national median of 50.0 by 39%, placing it in the top quarter of U.S. counties. This exceptional standing reflects extraordinary housing affordability and the lowest effective tax rate in this entire group.
2 / 5
Wisconsin's top performer in this cohort
Forest County leads all eight counties with a score of 69.3, exceeding Wisconsin's state average of 65.6 by 3.7 points. This distinction makes it one of the state's most livable counties by composite metrics.
3 / 5
Astonishing affordability and tax advantage
Forest County features the lowest effective tax rate at 1.169%, the lowest median rent at $585/month, and the highest cost score of 86.7—creating extraordinary purchasing power. A median home value of $170,000 combined with these metrics makes Forest County exceptionally accessible to all income levels.
4 / 5
Income and health outcomes lag significantly
Forest County's income score of 22.4 reflects a median household income of just $59,727—lowest in this group—limiting economic upward mobility and wage potential. Health outcomes at 67.3 also trail peers, suggesting healthcare access or population wellness challenges in this rural county.
5 / 5
Ideal for cost-minimizers and retirees
Forest County perfectly suits people on fixed incomes, remote workers, or those seeking radical affordability in a rural setting. The ultra-low taxes and rental costs make it unbeatable for financial minimalism, though potential residents should prioritize healthcare needs assessment given health infrastructure variations.
Forest County's composite score of 69.3 beats the national median of 50.0 by 39%, placing it in the top quarter of U.S. counties. This exceptional standing reflects extraordinary housing affordability and the lowest effective tax rate in this entire group.
Wisconsin's top performer in this cohort
Forest County leads all eight counties with a score of 69.3, exceeding Wisconsin's state average of 65.6 by 3.7 points. This distinction makes it one of the state's most livable counties by composite metrics.
Astonishing affordability and tax advantage
Forest County features the lowest effective tax rate at 1.169%, the lowest median rent at $585/month, and the highest cost score of 86.7—creating extraordinary purchasing power. A median home value of $170,000 combined with these metrics makes Forest County exceptionally accessible to all income levels.
Income and health outcomes lag significantly
Forest County's income score of 22.4 reflects a median household income of just $59,727—lowest in this group—limiting economic upward mobility and wage potential. Health outcomes at 67.3 also trail peers, suggesting healthcare access or population wellness challenges in this rural county.
Ideal for cost-minimizers and retirees
Forest County perfectly suits people on fixed incomes, remote workers, or those seeking radical affordability in a rural setting. The ultra-low taxes and rental costs make it unbeatable for financial minimalism, though potential residents should prioritize healthcare needs assessment given health infrastructure variations.
Score breakdown
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🏛69.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Forest County's 1.17% effective tax rate is Wisconsin's lowest and remarkably close to the national median of 1.08%, making it a genuine tax value. Homeowners here pay only $702 more than the national median despite property values being comparable.
Most affordable property taxes in state
Forest County ranks 72nd (lowest) among Wisconsin's 72 counties with a 1.17% effective rate, nearly a quarter-point below the state average of 1.44%. The median property tax of $1,988 is $1,093 below the state median, offering extraordinary relief.
Far lower than any nearby county
Forest County's 1.17% rate dramatically undercuts all surveyed neighbors: Florence (1.31%), Dunn (1.47%), and Eau Claire (1.43%). Residents enjoy Wisconsin's most affordable property tax environment by a substantial margin.
A $170,000 home costs $1,988 yearly
The median Forest County homeowner with a $170,000 property pays just $1,988 in annual taxes, or about $166 monthly. This is over $1,300 less than the state median tax bill.
Keep your assessment fair anyway
Even at Wisconsin's lowest rate, Forest County homeowners should verify their assessments haven't drifted above fair market value. A simple appeal could protect your tax advantage for years to come.
Renters in Forest County spend just 11.8% of their income on housing—well below the national average of 14.9%. Despite a median household income of $59,727, the county's incredibly low median rent of $585 makes it one of America's most affordable rental markets.
Wisconsin's most affordable county
Forest County's 11.8% rent-to-income ratio is dramatically below Wisconsin's state average of 14.9%, making it the clear affordability champion in this comparison. The county's $585 median rent is $306 below the state average, a difference that compounds dramatically across years.
Unmatched rental bargains in the region
Forest County's $585 rent undercuts every comparable county by hundreds of dollars monthly—$357 less than Eau Claire, $392 less than Dunn, and $286 less than Fond du Lac. This rural county delivers genuinely exceptional rental affordability.
Housing burden nearly vanishes
Forest County renters spend just $585 monthly while homeowners commit $754 to mortgages against a $59,727 median income. Housing consumes roughly 21% of household income—among the lowest anywhere—leaving substantial room for food, healthcare, and savings.
Unbeatable affordability, with trade-offs
Forest County is a haven for anyone seeking truly low housing costs, particularly remote workers or retirees with outside income sources. The trade-off is geographic isolation and a lower local wage base ($59,727), but for those who can work anywhere, Forest County's $585 rents are unmatched.
Forest County's median household income of $59,727 falls a stark $15,028 short of the national median of $74,755—a 20% deficit. This places Forest in the lowest quartile of U.S. counties by household earnings.
Wisconsin's lower-income counties
Forest County ranks among Wisconsin's lowest earners, with a median income of $59,727 trailing the state average by $11,988. The county's per-capita income of $31,994 is notably below Wisconsin's $38,794 average.
Lowest earnings in region
Forest County ($59,727) has the weakest median income in its cohort, falling below Florence ($62,786), Grant ($64,349), and Green Lake ($66,917). Only the most economically challenged areas of northern Wisconsin compare.
Lowest rent burden helps offset wage gap
Forest County's exceptional rent-to-income ratio of just 11.8%—the lowest in the region—provides crucial relief for renters on tight budgets. Median home values of $170,000 also support affordable homeownership.
Invest in skills and opportunities
Forest County's lower median income suggests focus on education, training, and career advancement for long-term wealth building. Even small automatic transfers to savings can establish emergency funds and demonstrate financial discipline to lenders for future home purchases.
Forest County's 74.1-year life expectancy is over 3 years below the U.S. average of 78.0 years, and its 19.2% poor/fair health rate significantly exceeds the national 17.5%. These are among the lowest health metrics in Wisconsin, reflecting deep structural health challenges.
Wisconsin's lowest life expectancy
At 74.1 years, Forest County has the lowest life expectancy of all Wisconsin counties measured, falling 3.7 years below the state average of 77.8 years. The county urgently needs healthcare investment and community health initiatives to close this gap.
Significantly worse than peers
Forest County's 74.1-year life expectancy trails Dunn County by 5.7 years and even underperforms the more rural Green Lake County by 2.8 years. While mental health provider access at 172 per 100,000 is decent, the lack of primary care provider data obscures a likely shortage.
Insurance gaps compound care crisis
Forest County's 9.5% uninsured rate is the highest in this group, meaning 1 in 10 residents lack health coverage. Data on primary care providers is unavailable, but the combination of high uninsured rates and limited regional capacity suggests Forest residents face serious barriers to basic healthcare.
Coverage is a lifeline in Forest
With nearly 10% of Forest County uninsured, securing coverage could be transformative for health outcomes. Visit healthcare.gov today or call 211 Wisconsin to find affordable plans and connect with community health resources.
Forest County scores 47.39 on the composite risk scale, placing it well below the national average and among the nation's safest communities for natural disasters. This county experiences minimal exposure across virtually all hazard types.
Wisconsin's safest counties
At 47.39, Forest County sits well below Wisconsin's state average of 59.08, making it one of the state's lowest-risk communities. Only a handful of Wisconsin counties offer comparable protection from natural hazards.
Among the region's safest
Forest County's 47.39 score ranks alongside Dunn County (48.79) as among the region's lowest-risk areas, significantly safer than Eau Claire County (78.31) or Fond du Lac County (76.30). This makes Forest one of the region's most secure locations for disaster exposure.
Tornado risk is notable concern
Tornado risk at 21.98 represents Forest County's highest hazard, though it remains well below state and national averages. Other risks—flooding (20.74), wildfire (13.42), and earthquake (1.62)—are all minimal, creating a remarkably low-risk profile overall.
Maintain baseline coverage
Forest County's exceptionally low risk profile means comprehensive disaster coverage is less critical than in higher-risk areas, but standard homeowners insurance remains a prudent foundation. Periodic policy reviews ensure adequate protection for the infrequent severe weather events that may occur.