The Town FilesApple River, Wisconsin
Town in Polk County · population 1,173 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,300
- Household income
- $74,762
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 52.7
Apple River is a town of 1,173 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $263,300, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 95% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 86% of Wisconsin towns.
How Apple River ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Apple River is worth $263,300, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $74,762, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $889 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Apple River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $889 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,762 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 28.1% | — |
Who lives in Apple River
| People | Apple River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 36.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Apple River
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 23, 1952 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 7, 1970.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 16,162 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,798 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Apple River itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Apple River
- Balsam Lake, WI5.1 mi · 934 people · home $210,200
- Georgetown, WI6.0 mi · 1,036 people · home $303,400
- Balsam Lake, WI6.1 mi · 1,416 people · home $309,300
- Lincoln, WI6.2 mi · 2,099 people · home $305,000
- Beaver, WI6.8 mi · 798 people · home $280,600
- Milltown, WI7.5 mi · 1,219 people · home $330,500
- Amery, WI8.5 mi · 2,962 people · home $183,000
- Garfield, WI8.5 mi · 1,744 people · home $315,200
Apple River questions
Is Apple River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Apple River scores better for retirees than 45% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 86%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.7).
How much does a house cost in Apple River?
The median owner-occupied home in Apple River is valued at $263,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,762, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $889 a month.
What is the weather like in Apple River?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 54.0 inches of snow.
Does Apple River get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 23, 1952. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)