The Town FilesBirnamwood, Wisconsin
Town in Shawano County · population 682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,000
- Household income
- $63,929
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.7
Birnamwood is a town of 682 people in Shawano County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $200,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 72% of Wisconsin towns.
How Birnamwood 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 Birnamwood is worth $200,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $63,929, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Birnamwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $850 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,929 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.9% | — |
Who lives in Birnamwood
| People | Birnamwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Birnamwood
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birnamwood since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 12, 1974 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 19, 2025.
Severe weather in Shawano County since 1996
Shawano County has been included in 8 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 |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Shawano County
Shawano County had 12,343 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,528 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Birnamwood itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Birnamwood
- Birnamwood, WI2.9 mi · 730 people · home $143,400
- Aniwa, WI4.8 mi · 517 people · home $173,200
- Almon, WI5.2 mi · 575 people · home $176,800
- Wittenberg, WI6.0 mi · 1,015 people · home $138,500
- Norrie, WI7.3 mi · 1,010 people · home $233,600
- Hutchins, WI7.6 mi · 500 people · home $176,100
- Wittenberg, WI7.9 mi · 823 people · home $220,500
- Plover, WI8.4 mi · 683 people · home $174,600
Birnamwood questions
Is Birnamwood, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Birnamwood scores better for retirees than 24% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 72%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Birnamwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Birnamwood is valued at $200,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,929, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Birnamwood?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 59.0 inches of snow.
Does Birnamwood get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birnamwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 12, 1974. 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)