CountyScore

Menominee County

Wisconsin · WI

#72 in Wisconsin
53.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Menominee County, Wisconsin

Menominee falls short of national standards

Menominee County's score of 53.3 barely exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the lower half of U.S. counties overall. Several structural challenges—notably tax policy and health—constrain its livability profile.

Significantly below Wisconsin average

Menominee's 53.3 score lags Wisconsin's average of 65.6 by 12 points, ranking it in the lower quartile of the state's counties. It faces distinct livability headwinds.

Exceptional housing affordability

Menominee's cost score of 88.5 is the highest in this group, with median homes at just $97,000 and rent at $624/month—offering unmatched affordability. For low-income households, this access to cheap housing is a genuine advantage.

Tax burden and health challenges weigh heavy

Menominee's effective tax rate of 3.636% (tax score 0.0) is triple the peer average, severely straining household budgets. Health score of 57.7 is the lowest in this group, and a risk score of 90.9 signals acute vulnerability to economic or environmental disruption.

Only for those with outside income support

Menominee County is a livability outlier that works only for households with stable outside income (pensions, remote jobs, retirement savings) who can afford the high tax burden. For wage-dependent workers or those relying on local employment, the tax-health-risk combination makes it a challenging place to build a stable life.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax0Cost88.5SafetyComing SoonHealth57.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.2Risk90.9WaterComing Soon
🏛0
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠88.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤57.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡90.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Menominee County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Alameda County
California
53.3
Median income: $126,240
San Francisco County
California
53.3
Median income: $141,446
Williamson County
Texas
53.3
Median income: $108,309
Ocean County
New Jersey
53.4
Median income: $86,411
Brazoria County
Texas
53.1
Median income: $95,155

Deep Dives

Menominee County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Menominee County

via TaxByCounty

Menominee's taxes are exceptionally high

Menominee County's effective tax rate of 3.636% is triple the national median of 1.209%, placing it among the most heavily taxed counties in America. At $3,527 in median annual property tax, Menominee residents pay 31% above the national median of $2,690, on homes valued far below average at $97,000.

By far Wisconsin's highest tax burden

Menominee ranks dramatically above all other Wisconsin counties at an effective tax rate of 3.636%, more than 2.5 times the state average of 1.436%. The median property tax of $3,527 exceeds Wisconsin's state median by 14%, making Menominee an extreme outlier in the state.

Regional tax outlier with unique status

Menominee's 3.636% rate dwarfs all eight-county neighbors, with the next-highest being Marathon County at 1.512%. This exceptional rate reflects Menominee's unique status as a trust land county with distinct governance and revenue structures.

Menominee homes carry steep tax burden

On a median home value of $97,000, Menominee County homeowners pay approximately $3,527 in annual property taxes. With mortgage escrow, that jumps significantly to $4,476 due to additional county fees and assessments.

Challenge assessments carefully

Given Menominee's exceptionally high effective tax rate, homeowners should thoroughly review their individual property assessments for accuracy. While systemic factors drive county-wide rates, individual assessment errors may still exist and could be successfully appealed through local channels.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Menominee County

via CostByCounty

Menominee achieves exceptional affordability

Menominee County renters spend just 12.6% of their $59,528 median household income on $624 monthly rent, beating both Wisconsin's state average of 14.9% and the national affordability benchmark by a significant margin. This county offers some of the Midwest's most accessible rental housing.

Wisconsin's most affordable county

Menominee's 12.6% rent-to-income ratio ranks at or near the top of all Wisconsin counties, a remarkable achievement given its below-average household incomes and lowest median rents statewide. Menominee delivers exceptional value despite economic modesty.

Lowest rent and lowest ratio in region

Menominee's $624 rent undercuts all neighbors by $100+, and its 12.6% ratio beats every regional peer, including Lincoln (13.6%) and Marinette (14.2%). No other county in this cluster approaches Menominee's affordability advantage.

Renters and owners both get deals

Renters allocate just $624 monthly (12.6%), while homeowners pay $586 monthly—an extraordinary 11.8% of income—for median homes valued at $97,000, the lowest in Wisconsin. Menominee offers rock-bottom housing costs across both tenure types.

Menominee: Wisconsin's affordability champion

If housing costs matter most, Menominee is unbeatable: $624 rent, $97K homes, and a 12.6% affordability ratio that beats every Wisconsin county. Compare Menominee's exceptional value against higher-cost neighbors if you're relocating and budget is the priority.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Menominee County

via IncomeByCounty

Menominee significantly lags national median

Menominee County's median household income of $59,528 trails the national median of $74,755 by 20.3%, reflecting one of Wisconsin's lowest county-level incomes. The per-capita income of $22,834 is dramatically below the state average of $38,794, indicating severe income inequality within households.

Wisconsin's lowest-earning county group

At $59,528, Menominee ranks among Wisconsin's lowest-earning counties, falling $12,187 below the state median of $71,715. The county faces structural economic challenges tied to tribal sovereignty, limited employment diversity, and reliance on gaming and government employment.

Significant income gap with region

Menominee's $59,528 median is the lowest among all regional peers, trailing Marathon ($76,185) by $16,657 and even Marinette ($63,401) by $3,873. The disparity reflects Menominee's unique tribal governance structure and distinct economic base.

Housing remarkably affordable despite low income

Menominee's 12.6% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest in the region and well below the 15% threshold, providing strong housing affordability. The median home value of $97,000 is less than half the regional average, making homeownership financially accessible despite modest earnings.

Maximize tribal benefits and savings programs

Menominee's median income of $59,528 and low housing costs create an opportunity to build wealth through aggressive savings and tribal economic programs. Investigate tribal business enterprises, employee stock ownership plans, and community development financial institutions designed to support Menominee Nation members' long-term financial stability.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Menominee County

via HealthByCounty

Menominee's health crisis demands urgent action

Menominee County's 63.0-year life expectancy represents a profound public health crisis, nearly 16 years below the US national average of 78.9 years. The county's 25.5% poor/fair health rate—far exceeding the national 18%—reflects severe and widespread health disparities rooted in socioeconomic, environmental, and historical factors.

Wisconsin's lowest life expectancy by far

Menominee County's 63.0-year life expectancy is the lowest in Wisconsin by a staggering 14.8 years compared to the state average of 77.8 years. This extraordinary gap signals entrenched health inequities requiring sustained, comprehensive intervention across housing, food access, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

Crisis outpacing even struggling peers

Menominee's 63.0-year life expectancy is 11 years lower than Marquette County (74.9 years), the next-lowest in the region, and far below all other neighboring counties. Despite having 93 primary care providers and 331 mental health providers per 100K—the highest in the region—the county's health outcomes remain catastrophically poor, indicating that provider numbers alone cannot resolve systemic underlying causes.

Excellent coverage masking deeper crises

Menominee County's 3.9% uninsured rate is the lowest in Wisconsin, yet this positive metric starkly contrasts with life expectancy 16 years below the national average. The mismatch reveals that insurance coverage, while necessary, cannot alone address poverty, substance abuse, trauma, environmental hazards, and limited economic mobility driving the county's health emergency.

Coverage is just the first step

Every Menominee County resident should ensure continuous coverage through BadgerCare, tribal health programs, or other public options. Beyond insurance, residents and leaders must demand investment in prevention, mental health services, economic development, and addressing the historical and ongoing inequities that shape health in this community.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Menominee County

via RiskByCounty

Menominee County is exceptionally safe

Menominee County's composite risk score of just 9.13 represents the lowest exposure in this Wisconsin county group and well below the national average. With a "Very Low" rating, the county faces minimal threat from most natural disaster hazards.

Wisconsin's safest natural disaster zone

At 9.13, Menominee County ranks as one of Wisconsin's lowest-risk counties, dramatically below the state average of 59.08. The county stands apart statewide for its exceptional natural disaster resilience.

Far safer than all surrounding counties

Menominee County's 9.13 score vastly outperforms all neighboring regions, including Marinette County (80.03) and Shawano County. This exceptional safety profile reflects the county's minimal exposure across virtually all hazard categories.

Tornado risk stands above others

Tornado risk of 21.47 represents Menominee County's only noteworthy hazard exposure, though even this ranks modestly compared to statewide tornado risk. Flood risk (7.41), wildfire risk (3.09), earthquake risk (1.21), and hurricane risk (0.00) are all minimal.

Basic coverage meets your needs

Menominee County residents benefit from exceptionally low disaster risk, making standard homeowners insurance with routine wind coverage adequate protection. The county's minimal hazard exposure means residents can focus insurance spending on coverage depth rather than specialized add-ons.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.