C

Spooner, WI

Source:

Affordability Score: 58/100

Population: 6,493 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Spooner, WI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,493 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (58/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $62,625, median home value of $216,500, median rent of $800 per month, and 26.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $975 per month (studio $672, 1BR $743, 3BR $1,169, 4BR $1,291). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,464 per year, consuming 15% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Spooner, WI include rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.6% and poverty 13.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$62,625
Median household income
Education D
26.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C-
3.5x
Home value $216,500 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$975/mo
2BR fair market rent (19% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$9,464/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$62,625
▲ 1% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,347
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Poverty Rate
13.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$216,500
▼ 21% vs national
Median Rent
$800/mo
Owner Occupied
76.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$975/mo
▼ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$672
1BR
$743
2BR
$975
3BR
$1,169
4BR
$1,291

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
26.6%
▼ 3 ppt vs national
High School+
61.5%
Median Age
53.4
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,464/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,840/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,840/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,956/yr

What This Means

Spooner, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,493. This area performs well in rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Spooner, WI affordable?
Spooner, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $62,625. Median home value is $216,500.
What is the cost of living in Spooner?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $800/mo. 2BR fair market rent $975/mo. Infant childcare $9,464/yr. Median home value $216,500.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →