The Town FilesBalsam Lake, Wisconsin
Village in Polk County · population 934 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,200
- Household income
- $52,011
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 55.9
Balsam Lake is a village of 934 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $210,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 86% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 77% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Balsam Lake 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 Balsam Lake is worth $210,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $52,011, which is more affordable than 13% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Balsam Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $975 | $951 |
| Median household income | $52,011 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.8% | — |
Who lives in Balsam Lake
| People | Balsam Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Balsam Lake
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balsam Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 23, 1952 about 3.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 17, 1996.
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 Balsam Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Balsam Lake
3 public schools with 942 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Elementary | PK-4 | 389 | 11.8 |
| Unity High | 9-12 | 295 | 14.0 |
| Unity Middle | 5-8 | 258 | 13.6 |
Towns near Balsam Lake
- Milltown, WI3.2 mi · 1,219 people · home $330,500
- Balsam Lake, WI3.5 mi · 1,416 people · home $309,300
- Milltown, WI4.8 mi · 948 people · home $123,100
- Apple River, WI5.1 mi · 1,173 people · home $263,300
- Centuria, WI5.5 mi · 891 people · home $145,600
- Georgetown, WI6.5 mi · 1,036 people · home $303,400
- St. Croix Falls, WI6.8 mi · 1,164 people · home $262,100
- Luck, WI8.0 mi · 1,093 people · home $167,500
Balsam Lake questions
Is Balsam Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Balsam Lake scores better for retirees than 72% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 69%. 33.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.9).
How much does a house cost in Balsam Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Balsam Lake is valued at $210,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,011, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Balsam Lake?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 61.2 inches of snow.
Does Balsam Lake get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Balsam Lake 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)