The Town FilesClear Lake, Wisconsin
Village in Polk County · population 1,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,700
- Household income
- $74,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.5
Clear Lake is a village of 1,099 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $198,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Clear 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 Clear Lake is worth $198,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $74,000, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $878 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clear Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $878 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clear Lake
| People | Clear Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Clear Lake
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clear Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 30, 1977 about 4.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 2017.
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 Clear Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Clear Lake
3 public schools with 541 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaylord A Nelson Educational Center | PK-6 | 269 | 12.2 |
| Clear Lake High | 9-12 | 198 | 14.1 |
| Clear Lake Junior High | 7-8 | 74 | 14.8 |
Towns near Clear Lake
- Clear Lake, WI2.6 mi · 888 people · home $283,000
- Black Brook, WI3.1 mi · 1,425 people · home $361,100
- Amery, WI6.1 mi · 2,962 people · home $183,000
- Forest, WI6.3 mi · 638 people · home $403,500
- Clayton, WI6.7 mi · 958 people · home $301,000
- Cylon, WI7.0 mi · 708 people · home $328,600
- Lincoln, WI7.4 mi · 2,099 people · home $305,000
- Clayton, WI7.4 mi · 550 people · home $135,700
Clear Lake questions
Is Clear Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clear Lake scores better for retirees than 11% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 39%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Clear Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Clear Lake is valued at $198,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $878 a month.
What is the weather like in Clear Lake?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.1 inches of snow.
Does Clear Lake get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clear Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 30, 1977. 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)