The Town FilesHay River, Wisconsin
Town in Dunn County · population 627 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,200
- Household income
- $74,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 51.0
Hay River is a town of 627 people in Dunn County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $247,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Hay River 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 Hay River is worth $247,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $74,250, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hay River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Hay River
| People | Hay River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 13.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Hay River
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 4, 1958 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 20. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 21 deaths and 66 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Dunn County since 1996
Dunn 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 |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dunn County
Dunn County had 18,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,935 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Hay River itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Towns near Hay River
- Boyceville, WI5.0 mi · 1,100 people · home $163,700
- Tiffany, WI5.6 mi · 617 people · home $261,700
- Sherman, WI7.2 mi · 922 people · home $304,700
- Wilson, WI7.4 mi · 504 people · home $205,200
- Tainter Lake, WI8.6 mi · 2,550 people · home $299,800
- New Haven, WI8.7 mi · 673 people · home $219,300
- Stanton, WI9.0 mi · 758 people · home $266,200
- Tainter, WI9.2 mi · 2,643 people · home $297,500
Hay River questions
Is Hay River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hay River scores better for retirees than 45% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 71%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Hay River?
The median owner-occupied home in Hay River is valued at $247,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,250, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Hay River?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47.0 inches of snow.
Does Hay River get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay River 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)