The Town FilesBirchwood, Wisconsin
Town in Washburn County · population 605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $364,300
- Household income
- $77,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 56.9
Birchwood is a town of 605 people in Washburn County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $364,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Wisconsin towns.
How Birchwood 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 Birchwood is worth $364,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $77,250, which is more affordable than 4% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,115 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birchwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $364,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,115 | $951 |
| Median household income | $77,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 60.9% | — |
Who lives in Birchwood
| People | Birchwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Birchwood
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 2.1°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birchwood since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 4, 1957 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 1987.
Severe weather in Washburn County since 1996
Washburn 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 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms 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 Washburn County
Washburn County had 5,523 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,282 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Birchwood itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Birchwood
- Long Lake, WI5.9 mi · 628 people · home $405,600
- Edgewater, WI6.2 mi · 565 people · home $282,300
- Madge, WI8.0 mi · 532 people · home $319,300
- Cedar Lake, WI8.5 mi · 1,076 people · home $267,100
- Sand Lake, WI9.4 mi · 901 people · home $297,200
- Stone Lake, WI10.0 mi · 515 people · home $246,000
- Oak Grove, WI10.3 mi · 960 people · home $228,000
- Beaver Brook, WI11.8 mi · 795 people · home $231,100
Birchwood questions
Is Birchwood, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birchwood scores better for retirees than 84% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 92%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.9).
How much does a house cost in Birchwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Birchwood is valued at $364,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,250, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,115 a month.
What is the weather like in Birchwood?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 2.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 67.2 inches of snow.
Does Birchwood get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birchwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 4, 1957. 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)