BARRON COUNTY - West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning ...

Household income is the sum of money income received in the calendar year before the
Decennial Census is collected by all household members 15 years old and over, including
household members not related to the householder, people living alone, and other nonfamily
household members. Included in the total are amounts reported separately for
wage or salary income; net self-employment income; interest, dividends, or net rental or
royalty income or income from estates and trusts; Social Security or Railroad Retirement
income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); public assistance or welfare payments;
retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and all other income. The median is the
mathematically derived middle value with 50 percent above and 50 percent below that
number.
It can be seen from Table 1.21 that Barron County is average when compared to the
incomes of surrounding counties. Certainly counties with, or closer to, larger urban
centers have a greater “economic engine” that provides employment opportunities and
resultant higher income. Those counties with lower incomes all have smaller urban
centers or are further away from significant employment centers such as the Twin Cities.
The data indicates that incomes for Barron County community residents are increasing
faster than inflation; however, the County median household income is below that of the
State of Wisconsin as a whole. It can also be seen that the median household income in
12 communities is below the County median household income, including almost all
cities and villages, while nine communities have median household incomes higher than
that of the state as a whole.
Population Projections
Population projections have long been used to assess development prospects and
community facility needs created by population growth. Small area population forecasts
can be used to evaluate potential residential development and economic conditions, and
the level of demand for public facilities and services. Businesses, schools and
government frequently use these forecasts to determine the future needs or design of
public facilities or services. This estimate of future growth is also valuable information
for establishing management techniques to guide orderly growth and development.
Projecting population is not a science in which absolutes can be placed. Consequently,
there are limitations that should be remembered when reviewing and evaluating these
forecasts. These limitations include:
Population projections are based on historical trends of population growth that are
extended into the future, and the assumption that those trends, and the factors behind
them, will continue to some point in time.
Forecasts of large area populations (e.g., states or counties) are more reliable. The
smaller the area for which a projection is produced, like an individual community, the
greater the possibility for error.
The closer the projection year is to the base year; the more likely the population for
that projection will be close to the true population.
10 Issues and Opportunities Information