The Town FilesChain O' Lakes, Wisconsin
Community in Waupaca County · population 1,124 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $640,000
- Household income
- $83,194
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 64.0
Chain O' Lakes is a community of 1,124 people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $640,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 94% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 81% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chain O' Lakes 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 Chain O' Lakes is worth $640,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 7.7 times the median household income of $83,194, which is more affordable than 0% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chain O' Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $640,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $768 | $951 |
| Median household income | $83,194 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.7% | — |
Who lives in Chain O' Lakes
| People | Chain O' Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 7.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chain O' Lakes
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chain O' Lakes since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 3.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Waupaca County since 1996
Waupaca County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Waupaca County
Waupaca County had 18,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Chain O' Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Chain O' Lakes
- King, WI2.0 mi · 1,242 people · home $145,900
- Farmington, WI3.0 mi · 3,712 people · home $251,500
- Dayton, WI3.5 mi · 2,644 people · home $254,400
- Waupaca, WI4.8 mi · 6,282 people · home $175,600
- Lanark, WI6.6 mi · 1,535 people · home $258,600
- Lind, WI6.7 mi · 1,571 people · home $216,800
- Waupaca, WI7.3 mi · 1,194 people · home $247,100
- Belmont, WI7.3 mi · 623 people · home $205,400
Chain O' Lakes questions
Is Chain O' Lakes, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chain O' Lakes scores better for retirees than 94% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 61%. 41.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.0).
How much does a house cost in Chain O' Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Chain O' Lakes is valued at $640,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,194, so homes cost about 7.7 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Chain O' Lakes?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.3 inches of snow.
Does Chain O' Lakes get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chain O' Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)