The Town FilesElmwood, Wisconsin
Village in Pierce County · population 820 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,000
- Household income
- $61,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 51.4
Elmwood is a village of 820 people in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $172,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 76% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Elmwood 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 Elmwood is worth $172,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $61,563, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $800 | $951 |
| Median household income | $61,563 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elmwood
| People | Elmwood | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Elmwood
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmwood since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 4, 1958 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Pierce County since 1996
Pierce County has been included in 13 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 11, 2001 | Flood | DR-1369: Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| July 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1236: Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And Floodi |
Jobs and pay in Pierce County
Pierce County had 10,512 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,483 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Elmwood itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Elmwood
4 public schools with 325 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmwood Elementary | PK-4 | 132 | 10.2 |
| Elmwood High | 9-12 | 90 | 9.0 |
| Elmwood Middle | 5-8 | 90 | 12.9 |
| Western Wisconsin Virtual Charter School (WWVC) (charter) | PK-12 | 13 | — |
Towns near Elmwood
- Spring Lake, WI3.2 mi · 598 people · home $232,100
- Weston, WI4.8 mi · 574 people · home $272,000
- Eau Galle, WI5.9 mi · 765 people · home $243,600
- Spring Valley, WI6.8 mi · 1,401 people · home $198,900
- Gilman, WI8.0 mi · 1,006 people · home $362,600
- Lucas, WI8.8 mi · 698 people · home $281,000
- El Paso, WI8.8 mi · 724 people · home $266,700
- Cady, WI9.0 mi · 880 people · home $351,900
Elmwood questions
Is Elmwood, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmwood scores better for retirees than 70% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 52%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Elmwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmwood is valued at $172,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,563, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmwood?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Elmwood get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 4, 1958. 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)