The Town FilesBarksdale, Wisconsin
Town in Bayfield County · population 745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $270,000
- Household income
- $81,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 51.2
Barksdale is a town of 745 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $270,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 96% of Wisconsin towns.
How Barksdale 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 Barksdale is worth $270,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $81,625, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barksdale | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $270,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $742 | $951 |
| Median household income | $81,625 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.8% | — |
Who lives in Barksdale
| People | Barksdale | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Barksdale
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barksdale since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 11, 2014 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2010.
Severe weather in Bayfield County since 1996
Bayfield County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bayfield County
Bayfield County had 4,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Barksdale itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Barksdale
- Washburn, WI4.5 mi · 554 people · home $248,300
- Eileen, WI5.7 mi · 722 people · home $280,000
- Washburn, WI9.1 mi · 2,051 people · home $178,900
- Ashland, WI9.4 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Gingles, WI11.7 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
- Bayview, WI11.9 mi · 512 people · home $256,300
- White River, WI14.6 mi · 1,067 people · home $218,200
- Iron River, WI14.8 mi · 1,240 people · home $250,000
Barksdale questions
Is Barksdale, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barksdale scores better for retirees than 96% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 72%. 30.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Barksdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Barksdale is valued at $270,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,625, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Barksdale?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 82.9 inches of snow.
Does Barksdale get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barksdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 11, 2014. 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)