Cost of Living in Baraboo
Baraboo's cost of living pairs moderate, if disclosed-mixed, home values against a property tax rate that runs below Wisconsin's own statewide median.
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Learn moreA real, disclosed home-value tension
Zillow's own typical home value ran $247,493 (up 3.8% YoY), while Redfin's own median sale price ran $255,000 -- but down a real, disclosed 12.8% YoY, a divergence this record discloses rather than resolves to one number.
A property tax rate below the Wisconsin statewide median
Baraboo's median effective property tax rate ran 1.30% this pass -- below Wisconsin's own 1.43% statewide median, though still above the 1.02% national median. Sauk County averages $3,150 in annual property taxes on a $260,500 median assessed value.
Wisconsin's flat-structure income tax applies regardless
Wisconsin's real, 4-bracket progressive state income tax (3.54%-7.65% for single filers, 2026) applies statewide, including in Baraboo, with no county or city piggyback layer.
Key takeaways
- Home values carry a real, disclosed tension: Zillow up 3.8% YoY, Redfin's median sale price down 12.8% YoY.
- Effective property tax rate (1.30%) runs below Wisconsin's own 1.43% statewide median.
- Median household income ($69,750) runs close to national norms, with a comparatively low 8.42% poverty rate.
- Wisconsin's statewide 4-bracket income tax (3.54%-7.65%) applies regardless of city.
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