Whitewater: Economy & Jobs
Households in Whitewater earn a median $54,969 (1.5× below Walworth County median $80,520; 1.4× below Wisconsin median $77,485), with homes at a median value of $229,400. The surrounding county supports 33,615 jobs (avg $54,167).
- $75,650 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (at Wisconsin median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $54,969 — below the Wisconsin median ($73,427). Poverty rate 26.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 42% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 21.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 42.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 26.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 7.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $42,630 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $3,224,973 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $75,650 (at Wisconsin median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $55,836 |
| Median Household Income | $54,969 (vs Wisconsin $73,427) |
| Poverty Rate | 26.8% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $54,969 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.7% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 9% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 17.00 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 33,615 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,820,810,164 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $54,167 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,885,990 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% (vs Wisconsin 2.2%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 171 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 44,413 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 259.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Grain |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 2,032 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 31,688 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,604,673 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 16 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 38 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 10 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Paint Hardware | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 9 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 65 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 54 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 35 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 10 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (6)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Walmart Supercenter 1274 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 11 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | WHITEWATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $461,614,291 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,437.15 (vs Wisconsin $6,238) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 84,900 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 64.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 13.3% |
| Pct Walked | 9.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 22.1 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 20.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12