The Town FilesCornell, Wisconsin
City in Chippewa County · population 1,453 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $55,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 39.9
Cornell is a city of 1,453 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $155,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Cornell 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 Cornell is worth $155,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,192, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cornell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $798 | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,192 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Cornell
| People | Cornell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Cornell
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornell since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 30, 1977 about 7.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 12, 1982.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 10, 2023.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 11 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 |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 26,613 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cornell itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Cornell
3 public schools with 381 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell Elementary | PK-5 | 205 | 12.8 |
| Cornell High | 9-12 | 104 | 17.3 |
| Cornell Middle | 6-8 | 72 | 18.0 |
Towns near Cornell
- Lake Holcombe, WI6.0 mi · 1,011 people · home $238,000
- Cleveland, WI6.1 mi · 889 people · home $234,300
- Arthur, WI7.2 mi · 771 people · home $235,600
- Colburn, WI9.0 mi · 892 people · home $233,600
- Anson, WI11.3 mi · 2,297 people · home $312,800
- Willard, WI11.5 mi · 525 people · home $222,000
- Eagle Point, WI11.8 mi · 3,237 people · home $371,700
- Goetz, WI12.3 mi · 813 people · home $288,600
Cornell questions
Is Cornell, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cornell scores better for retirees than 10% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 54%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Cornell?
The median owner-occupied home in Cornell is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,192, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Cornell?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 45.7 inches of snow.
Does Cornell get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)