The Town FilesLake Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Town in Oneida County · population 1,155 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $272,800
- Household income
- $70,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 50.8
Lake Tomahawk is a town of 1,155 people in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $272,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lake Tomahawk 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 Lake Tomahawk is worth $272,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $70,278, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Tomahawk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $272,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $850 | $951 |
| Median household income | $70,278 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.3% | — |
Who lives in Lake Tomahawk
| People | Lake Tomahawk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lake Tomahawk
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 1.2°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 199 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Tomahawk since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1985 about 5.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 16, 1997.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 9 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1332: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oneida County
Oneida County had 16,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lake Tomahawk itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Lake Tomahawk
1 public school with — students.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNaughton Correctional Center | 7-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lake Tomahawk
- Newbold, WI5.1 mi · 2,831 people · home $274,000
- Woodruff, WI5.9 mi · 2,044 people · home $282,400
- Hazelhurst, WI6.9 mi · 1,299 people · home $371,900
- Cassian, WI7.7 mi · 1,069 people · home $238,400
- Woodruff, WI9.4 mi · 891 people · home $278,400
- Pine Lake, WI11.5 mi · 2,724 people · home $272,000
- St. Germain, WI11.7 mi · 2,083 people · home $255,600
- Woodboro, WI11.9 mi · 808 people · home $305,600
Lake Tomahawk questions
Is Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Tomahawk scores better for retirees than 85% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 87%. 28.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake Tomahawk?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Tomahawk is valued at $272,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,278, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Tomahawk?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 1.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 79.6 inches of snow.
Does Lake Tomahawk get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Tomahawk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 8, 1985. 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)