What is the largest city in Marathon County, WI?

Wausau is the largest city or town in Marathon County, with about 39,996 residents.

How many ZIP codes are in Marathon County?

Marathon County includes 19 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 54401, 54403, 54405, 54408, 54411.

What is the population of Marathon County, WI?

About 138,403 people live in Marathon County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

What counties border Marathon County?

Marathon County borders Wood County, Portage County, Waupaca County, Shawano County, Clark County, Lincoln County, Taylor County, Langlade County.

Marathon County, WI: Cities, ZIP Codes & Local Data

Population

138,403

Land area

1,545sq mi

People per sq mi

90

ZIP codes

19

Marathon County at a glance

By population, it ranks 10th among 72 counties in Wisconsin.
The median household income is $77,884, close to the Wisconsin median.
A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $219,600 (18% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $999 a month.
Its largest cities are Wausau (39,996), Weston (15,749) and Kronenwetter (8,395).

Local data for Marathon County, WI

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Marathon County, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$77,884

Poverty rate

8.7%

Median home value

$219,600

Prices +7.7% in a year

Median rent

$999/mo

Homeownership

73.3%

Bachelor's or higher

28.1%

Median age

41.3

Average commute

19.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (64,847), Polish Americans (20,105), Irish Americans (10,892).

Home values and rents Income, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

2.5%

Sep 2026, +0.1 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$60,545

69,778 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$65,589

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$894M

FY 2026, $6,476 per person

PPP loans

$329M

4,026 loans, 37,777 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$527K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

Economy Federal spending PPP loans

How people get to work

Marathon County, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Drove alone76.2%
Carpooled7.5%
Public transit0.2%
Walked1.9%
Bicycle0.4%
Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
Worked from home12.9%

Average one-way commute: 19.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Marathon County, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: cold wave

Storm events since 1996

753

Most often hail

Flood insurance policies

199

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

80° / 7°F

33.9 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm history Check a flood zone 23 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Marathon County, WI, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

36.3%

U.S. 33.3% +3.0 pts

Diabetes

10.9%

U.S. 12.1% -1.2 pts

Smoking

14.3%

U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.7%

U.S. 11.1% -3.4 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Marathon County

Population shown

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Marathon County, WI?: Wausau is the largest city or town in Marathon County, with about 39,996 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Marathon County?: Marathon County includes 19 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 54401, 54403, 54405, 54408, 54411.
What is the population of Marathon County, WI?: About 138,403 people live in Marathon County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Marathon County?: Marathon County borders Wood County, Portage County, Waupaca County, Shawano County, Clark County, Lincoln County, Taylor County, Langlade County.