The Town FilesBone Lake, Wisconsin
Town in Polk County · population 686 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,300
- Household income
- $97,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 60.0
Bone Lake is a town of 686 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $279,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 87% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Bone Lake 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 Bone Lake is worth $279,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $97,250, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 96.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bone Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $950 | $951 |
| Median household income | $97,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 96.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.4% | — |
Who lives in Bone Lake
| People | Bone Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Bone Lake
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.6°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bone Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 23, 1952 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 26, 2014.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk 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 Polk County
Polk County had 16,162 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,798 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Bone Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Bone Lake
- Clam Falls, WI5.7 mi · 554 people · home $206,300
- Luck, WI6.0 mi · 979 people · home $265,900
- Georgetown, WI6.0 mi · 1,036 people · home $303,400
- Luck, WI6.4 mi · 1,093 people · home $167,500
- Frederic, WI7.1 mi · 1,154 people · home $153,500
- Milltown, WI8.8 mi · 1,219 people · home $330,500
- West Sweden, WI8.9 mi · 744 people · home $231,400
- Milltown, WI9.6 mi · 948 people · home $123,100
Bone Lake questions
Is Bone Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bone Lake scores better for retirees than 44% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 82%. 39.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.0).
How much does a house cost in Bone Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Bone Lake is valued at $279,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,250, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Bone Lake?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 61.2 inches of snow.
Does Bone Lake get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bone Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 23, 1952. 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)