The Town FilesHurley, Wisconsin
City in Iron County · population 1,558 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $86,700
- Household income
- $47,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 155 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 53.3
Hurley is a city of 1,558 people in Iron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $86,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 91% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 86% of Wisconsin towns.
How Hurley 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 Hurley is worth $86,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $47,083, which is more affordable than 98% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hurley | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $86,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $678 | $951 |
| Median household income | $47,083 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.9% | — |
Who lives in Hurley
| People | Hurley | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Hurley
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 3.2°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 155.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hurley since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 11, 2016 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 18, 2024.
Severe weather in Iron County since 1996
Iron County has been included in 12 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iron County
Iron County had 1,686 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,528 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Hurley itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Hurley
2 public schools with 560 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurley High | 6-12 | 325 | 14.1 |
| Hurley Elementary | PK-5 | 235 | 14.7 |
Towns near Hurley
- Montreal, WI1.6 mi · 801 people · home $97,800
- Ironwood, MI2.9 mi · 5,045 people · home $83,100
- Bessemer, MI8.0 mi · 1,805 people · home $69,900
- Ironwood, MI8.6 mi · 2,214 people · home $152,600
- Wakefield, MI13.4 mi · 1,702 people · home $79,100
- Bessemer, MI14.2 mi · 1,135 people · home $103,900
- Mercer, WI20.6 mi · 1,649 people · home $287,100
- Mercer, WI21.2 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
Hurley questions
Is Hurley, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hurley scores better for retirees than 41% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 43%. 33.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Hurley?
The median owner-occupied home in Hurley is valued at $86,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,083, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Hurley?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 3.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 155.0 inches of snow.
Does Hurley get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hurley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 11, 2016. 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)