By the numbers
Among Wisconsin’s most populous counties, Dane County pays the highest interest on government debt on a per-resident basis, while St. Croix County’s government has the most debt per resident, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
The state agency latest annual report on county and municipal finances is based on data from 2023.
Of Wisconsin’s 20 largest counties by population, St. Croix County had the highest debt level per resident, at $1,248 per capita.
Dane County was in second place in overall debt, at $1,154 in debt per person, but it paid the largest amount of interest per person, at $331. Milwaukee County’s per capita debt, at $420, with $36 per person paid in interest, were both better than median.
Across counties of all sizes, Trempealeau and Waushara counties had easily the greatest per-person debt, at $2,408 and $2,307 respectively.
Tops among all counties in interest costs were Iron County, at $1,010 per person, Dane County with $330 per person, and Iowa County with $232 per person.
