The Town FilesBarron, Wisconsin
City in Barron County · population 3,733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,600
- Household income
- $47,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 46.9
Barron is a city of 3,733 people in Barron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $121,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Barron 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 Barron is worth $121,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $47,469, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barron | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $946 | $951 |
| Median household income | $47,469 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Barron
| People | Barron | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Barron
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 1.7°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barron since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 16, 2017 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 23, 1965.
Severe weather in Barron County since 1996
Barron 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 Barron County
Barron County had 21,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,983 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Barron itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Barron
3 public schools with 921 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barron High | 9-12 | 312 | 12.0 |
| Woodland Elementary | PK-4 | 311 | 11.1 |
| Riverview Middle | 5-8 | 298 | 11.9 |
Towns near Barron
- Stanley, WI6.1 mi · 2,570 people · home $249,100
- Rice Lake, WI7.3 mi · 9,040 people · home $193,800
- Rice Lake, WI9.7 mi · 2,813 people · home $237,000
- Amery, WI26.1 mi · 2,962 people · home $183,000
- Bloomer, WI26.9 mi · 3,683 people · home $214,000
- Tainter Lake, WI28.5 mi · 2,550 people · home $299,800
- Tainter, WI29.1 mi · 2,643 people · home $297,500
Barron questions
Is Barron, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barron scores better for retirees than 65% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 25%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Barron?
The median owner-occupied home in Barron is valued at $121,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,469, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Barron?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 1.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.5 inches of snow.
Does Barron get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barron since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 16, 2017. 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)