The Town FilesCrandon, Wisconsin
City in Forest County · population 1,713 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,500
- Household income
- $42,784
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.0
Crandon is a city of 1,713 people in Forest County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $136,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Crandon 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 Crandon is worth $136,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $42,784, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $654 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crandon | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $654 | $951 |
| Median household income | $42,784 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.6% | — |
Who lives in Crandon
| People | Crandon | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Crandon
July highs average 73.4°F and January lows 4.0°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crandon since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1985 about 9.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 27, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Forest County since 1996
Forest County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Tornado | DR-4949: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 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 Forest County
Forest County had 3,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,541 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Crandon itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Crandon
3 public schools with 808 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crandon Elementary | PK-5 | 401 | 12.5 |
| Crandon High | 9-12 | 237 | 13.9 |
| Crandon Middle | 6-8 | 170 | 13.1 |
Towns near Crandon
- Lincoln, WI2.0 mi · 1,133 people · home $212,300
- Crandon, WI4.6 mi · 606 people · home $168,400
- Nashville, WI6.3 mi · 1,215 people · home $218,500
- Mole Lake, WI6.8 mi · 535 people · home $128,100
- Laona, WI9.8 mi · 1,215 people · home $191,800
- Laona, WI10.9 mi · 519 people · home $128,100
- Argonne, WI15.9 mi · 546 people · home $166,700
- Elcho, WI16.5 mi · 1,168 people · home $212,800
Crandon questions
Is Crandon, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crandon scores better for retirees than 43% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 70%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Crandon?
The median owner-occupied home in Crandon is valued at $136,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,784, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $654 a month.
What is the weather like in Crandon?
July highs average 73.4°F and January lows 4.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 74.7 inches of snow.
Does Crandon get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crandon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 8, 1985. 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)