The Town FilesBarnes, Wisconsin
Town in Bayfield County · population 823 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,100
- Household income
- $74,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 62.7
Barnes is a town of 823 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $288,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Barnes 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 Barnes is worth $288,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $74,167, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. 91.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,167 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 64.6% | — |
Who lives in Barnes
| People | Barnes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 7.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 23.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 41.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Barnes
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnes since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 30, 1968 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 3, 2024.
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 Barnes itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Towns near Barnes
- Drummond, WI8.9 mi · 544 people · home $300,000
- Cable, WI11.2 mi · 853 people · home $179,200
- Lenroot, WI13.0 mi · 1,337 people · home $300,700
- Gordon, WI16.3 mi · 757 people · home $219,600
- Solon Springs, WI16.7 mi · 656 people · home $211,500
- Solon Springs, WI16.7 mi · 970 people · home $268,100
- Lake Nebagamon, WI16.8 mi · 1,123 people · home $284,500
- Wascott, WI17.4 mi · 912 people · home $310,900
Barnes questions
Is Barnes, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnes scores better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 96%. 45.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.7).
How much does a house cost in Barnes?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnes is valued at $288,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,167, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Barnes?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 68.2 inches of snow.
Does Barnes get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 30, 1968. 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)