The Town FilesIron River, Wisconsin
Community in Bayfield County · population 768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,100
- Household income
- $50,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 46.9
Iron River is a community of 768 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $171,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 92% of Wisconsin towns.
How Iron 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 Iron River is worth $171,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $50,536, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $696 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iron River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $696 | $951 |
| Median household income | $50,536 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.3% | — |
Who lives in Iron River
| People | Iron River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Iron River
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Iron River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 3, 1983 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 3, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Bayfield County since 1996
Bayfield County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| 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 Bayfield County
Bayfield County had 4,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Iron River itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Iron River
- Iron River, WI2.9 mi · 1,240 people · home $250,000
- Oulu, WI5.7 mi · 560 people · home $257,100
- Brule, WI10.1 mi · 607 people · home $227,100
- Maple, WI14.6 mi · 700 people · home $201,300
- Lake Nebagamon, WI15.5 mi · 1,123 people · home $284,500
- Washburn, WI15.6 mi · 554 people · home $248,300
- Barksdale, WI16.0 mi · 745 people · home $270,000
- Drummond, WI18.1 mi · 544 people · home $300,000
Iron River questions
Is Iron River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iron River scores better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 92%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Iron River?
The median owner-occupied home in Iron River is valued at $171,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,536, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $696 a month.
What is the weather like in Iron River?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.2 inches of snow.
Does Iron River get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Iron River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 3, 1983. 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)