The Town FilesChief Lake, Wisconsin
Community in Sawyer County · population 582 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,000
- Household income
- $70,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 49.6
Chief Lake is a community of 582 people in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $215,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 87% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chief 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 Chief Lake is worth $215,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $70,833, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $721 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chief Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $721 | $951 |
| Median household income | $70,833 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.8% | — |
Who lives in Chief Lake
| People | Chief Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chief Lake
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Chief Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 10, 1966 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 1966.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Sawyer County since 1996
Sawyer County has been included in 9 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 Sawyer County
Sawyer County had 7,250 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,406 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Chief Lake itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Towns near Chief Lake
- Little Round Lake, WI2.6 mi · 1,242 people · home —
- Hayward, WI4.9 mi · 3,765 people · home $241,600
- Bass Lake, WI5.5 mi · 2,731 people · home $267,000
- Hunter, WI7.7 mi · 779 people · home $291,700
- Hayward, WI8.7 mi · 2,533 people · home $184,700
- Sand Lake, WI10.6 mi · 901 people · home $297,200
- Bass Lake, WI12.5 mi · 566 people · home $230,000
- Round Lake, WI12.9 mi · 1,081 people · home $397,600
Chief Lake questions
Is Chief Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chief Lake scores better for retirees than 24% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 23%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Chief Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Chief Lake is valued at $215,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,833, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $721 a month.
What is the weather like in Chief Lake?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 59.4 inches of snow.
Does Chief Lake get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Chief Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 10, 1966. 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)