The Town FilesFlorence, Wisconsin
Town in Florence County · population 2,096 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,200
- Household income
- $58,832
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 66 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 55.7
Florence is a town of 2,096 people in Florence County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $196,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns.
How Florence 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 Florence is worth $196,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $58,832, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Florence | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $869 | $951 |
| Median household income | $58,832 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 41.2% | — |
Who lives in Florence
| People | Florence | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Florence
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 3.2°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 9, 2020 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 10, 2022.
Severe weather in Florence County since 1996
Florence County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 16, 1999 | Flood | DR-1284: Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
Jobs and pay in Florence County
Florence County had 972 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,280 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Florence itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Florence
3 public schools with 381 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence Elementary | PK-6 | 204 | 11.3 |
| Florence High | 9-12 | 112 | 9.3 |
| Florence Middle | 7-8 | 65 | 13.0 |
Towns near Florence
- Florence, WI6.3 mi · 641 people · home $85,700
- Mastodon, MI8.2 mi · 576 people · home $124,000
- Crystal Falls, MI12.0 mi · 1,598 people · home $83,300
- Kingsford, MI15.0 mi · 5,139 people · home $132,100
- Caspian, MI16.0 mi · 805 people · home $79,100
- Iron Mountain, MI16.1 mi · 7,518 people · home $141,600
- Aurora, WI16.8 mi · 987 people · home $163,000
- Breitung, MI17.5 mi · 5,831 people · home $175,300
Florence questions
Is Florence, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Florence scores better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 97%. 28.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.7).
How much does a house cost in Florence?
The median owner-occupied home in Florence is valued at $196,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,832, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Florence?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 3.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.4 inches of precipitation a year and 65.6 inches of snow.
Does Florence get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 9, 2020. 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)