The title of the poorest town in Wisconsin for 2025 goes to Lac du Flambeau, a small community in the northern part of the state. This designation comes from a recent analysis by 24/7 Wall St., which used data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to compare towns across the country based on median household income and other economic indicators. The findings reveal a stark economic contrast between Lac du Flambeau and the rest of Wisconsin, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by its residents.
How Lac du Flambeau Was Chosen
The methodology for determining the poorest town involved examining communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 and ranking them by median household income. While the typical American household earns over $69,000 per year, the towns on this list have median incomes as low as $9,100 and up to $43,800-well below national and state averages. For Wisconsin, Lac du Flambeau was identified as having the lowest median household income among qualifying towns.
Economic Profile of Lac du Flambeau
Lac du Flambeau is home to approximately 1,800 people. The median household income is just $26,076, which is less than half of Wisconsin’s state average of $67,080. This significant income gap underscores the economic hardship experienced by many families in the town.
Housing in Lac du Flambeau is also markedly less expensive than elsewhere in Wisconsin. The median home value stands at $77,500, compared to the state average of $200,400. While lower home values can make housing more affordable, they also reflect limited economic development and investment in the community.
A striking 18.1% of households in Lac du Flambeau receive SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), commonly known as food stamps. This high rate of reliance on government assistance highlights the extent of financial insecurity among residents.
Poverty and Demographics
The poverty rate in Lac du Flambeau is extraordinarily high. Data shows that 37.2% of the population lives below the poverty line, far exceeding the national average of 12.4%. The town’s population is predominantly American Indian and Alaska Native, making up over 80% of residents, with smaller percentages of White, Asian, and multiracial individuals. The median age is 29.8, indicating a relatively young community.
Despite the economic challenges, nearly all residents are U.S. citizens, and most commute short distances to work, with an average commute time of just under 11 minutes. The homeownership rate is below 50%, and the average household owns one car.
Context and Broader Implications
While some larger cities in Wisconsin, such as Milwaukee or Whitewater, have high poverty rates, the designation of “poorest town” is based on smaller communities’ median household income and population size. Lac du Flambeau’s economic struggles are reflective of broader issues facing many rural and Native American communities across the country, including limited job opportunities, underinvestment, and persistent poverty.
Lac du Flambeau stands out as the poorest town in Wisconsin, with a median household income and property values far below the state average, a high poverty rate, and significant reliance on public assistance. The town’s experience sheds light on the economic disparities that persist in certain regions of the state, especially in rural and Indigenous communities.
Sources
- https://mylolowcountry.com/usa-laws/this-town-has-been-named-the-poorest-in-wisconsin/
- https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lac-du-flambeau-wi
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-14-wisconsin-town-named-the-poorest-in-the-state/
- https://www.irp.wisc.edu/resources/who-is-poor-in-wisconsin/
- https://247wallst.com/income/2025/01/17/the-poorest-town-in-every-state-in-america/