The Town FilesJacobs, Wisconsin
Town in Ashland County · population 648 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,100
- Household income
- $55,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 124 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 57.3
Jacobs is a town of 648 people in Ashland County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $99,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Jacobs 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 Jacobs is worth $99,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $55,625, which is more affordable than 98% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jacobs | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $588 | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,625 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 28.3% | — |
Who lives in Jacobs
| People | Jacobs | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Jacobs
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 1.1°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 123.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacobs since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 27, 2010 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 25, 2020.
Severe weather in Ashland County since 1996
Ashland County has been included in 14 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 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ashland County
Ashland County had 7,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,101 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Jacobs itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Jacobs
- Mellen, WI12.8 mi · 698 people · home $78,100
- Park Falls, WI16.3 mi · 2,410 people · home $84,800
- Lake, WI17.2 mi · 1,106 people · home $222,300
- Ashland, WI18.1 mi · 589 people · home $126,800
- Mercer, WI18.5 mi · 1,649 people · home $287,100
- Eisenstein, WI18.9 mi · 625 people · home $194,500
- Montreal, WI22.6 mi · 801 people · home $97,800
- Mercer, WI22.8 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
Jacobs questions
Is Jacobs, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jacobs scores better for retirees than 68% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 91%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.3).
How much does a house cost in Jacobs?
The median owner-occupied home in Jacobs is valued at $99,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,625, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Jacobs?
July highs average 77.7°F and January lows 1.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 123.9 inches of snow.
Does Jacobs get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacobs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 27, 2010. 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)