City Report · WI

Marshfield

Pop. 18,700·48th most expensive in Wisconsin·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,164/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
-$768
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Marshfield · $1,164
More affordable than 93% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,164/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$47,000/yr
Local median income
$58,407/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Marshfield's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$690
1 BR
$740
2 BR
$970
3 BR
$1,250
4 BR+
$1,290
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$970/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,164 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($58,407) is $1,460 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,290).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Marshfield. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,968/yr
At $1,164/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Marshfield, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 25.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,700
Median income
$58,407
Median age
43.2
Renters
40%
Age distribution
17.8%
21.5%
24.3%
13.3%
23.1%
Under 1817.8%
18–3421.5%
35–5424.3%
55–6413.3%
65+23.1%
Gender
48.9%
51.1%
Male48.9%
Female51.1%
Race & ethnicity
90.1%
White90.1%
Black1.2%
Hispanic3.5%
Asian2.5%
Other2.7%
Education (25+)
35.1%
34.9%
25.6%
No HS diploma4.4%
HS diploma35.1%
Some college34.9%
Bachelor's+25.6%
Housing tenure
60%
40%
Owner60%
Renter40%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Marshfield, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$53,140 → $58,407
up 9.9%
Population
18,668 → 18,700
up 0.2%
Renter share
36.2% → 40%
+3.8 pts
Bachelor's+
27.1% → 25.6%
-1.5 pts

Census figures show median household income at $58,407 today, compared with $53,140 five years earlier. Renters now make up 40% of households, compared with 36.2% five years ago.

Community

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View Marshfield rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Marshfield on your salary?

At $1,164/mo, how Marshfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Marshfield rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Marshfield. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Marshfield

About renting in Marshfield, WI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Marshfield is $1,164/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $690/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $970/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $740/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,250/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($58,407/yr), Marshfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Marshfield?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,164/mo in Marshfield. The local median household income is $58,407/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Marshfield?

Rent in Marshfield has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Marshfield rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Marshfield is one of the more affordable among Wisconsin cities for rent, ranking #48 of 56 tracked cities at $1,164/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Marshfield?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Marshfield ($1,164/mo) include Wausau ($954/mo), and Wisconsin Rapids ($1,041/mo).
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,164/mo, rent takes ~24% of Marshfield's median household income ($58,407/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Marshfield 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Marshfield affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Marshfield, WI

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