The Town FilesChetek, Wisconsin
Town in Barron County · population 1,726 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $317,600
- Household income
- $95,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 54.9
Chetek is a town of 1,726 people in Barron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $317,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 87% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 83% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chetek 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 Chetek is worth $317,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $95,357, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $940 a month. 96.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chetek | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $317,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $940 | $951 |
| Median household income | $95,357 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 96.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 35.4% | — |
Who lives in Chetek
| People | Chetek | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chetek
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 50.0 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
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chetek since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 16, 2017 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 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 Chetek itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Chetek
- Chetek, WI3.1 mi · 2,172 people · home $171,200
- Rusk, WI5.4 mi · 551 people · home $209,800
- Sumner, WI5.6 mi · 699 people · home $302,100
- Dovre, WI5.9 mi · 825 people · home $201,100
- Prairie Lake, WI6.5 mi · 1,648 people · home $279,700
- Cameron, WI8.1 mi · 1,872 people · home $190,000
- Stanley, WI8.7 mi · 2,570 people · home $249,100
- Sioux Creek, WI9.2 mi · 667 people · home $259,300
Chetek questions
Is Chetek, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chetek scores better for retirees than 82% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 72%. 31.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.9).
How much does a house cost in Chetek?
The median owner-occupied home in Chetek is valued at $317,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,357, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $940 a month.
What is the weather like in Chetek?
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 50.0 inches of snow.
Does Chetek get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chetek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)