The Town FilesLadysmith, Wisconsin
City in Rusk County · population 3,216 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,200
- Household income
- $41,719
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 49.5
Ladysmith is a city of 3,216 people in Rusk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $124,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Ladysmith 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 Ladysmith is worth $124,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $41,719, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ladysmith | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $882 | $951 |
| Median household income | $41,719 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ladysmith
| People | Ladysmith | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Ladysmith
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 2.0°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 192 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ladysmith since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 16, 2017 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 8, 2000.
Severe weather in Rusk County since 1996
Rusk County has been included in 12 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 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Rusk County
Rusk County had 4,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,068 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Ladysmith itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Ladysmith
3 public schools with 749 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladysmith Elementary | PK-5 | 349 | 12.0 |
| Ladysmith High | 9-12 | 241 | 13.4 |
| Ladysmith Middle | 6-8 | 159 | 12.2 |
Ladysmith questions
Is Ladysmith, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ladysmith scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 28%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Ladysmith?
The median owner-occupied home in Ladysmith is valued at $124,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,719, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Ladysmith?
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Ladysmith get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ladysmith since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 16, 2017. 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)