The Town FilesLakeland, Wisconsin
Town in Barron County · population 938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,500
- Household income
- $63,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 52.0
Lakeland is a town of 938 people in Barron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $267,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 92% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lakeland 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 Lakeland is worth $267,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $63,750, which is more affordable than 9% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakeland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $769 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.8% | — |
Who lives in Lakeland
| People | Lakeland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lakeland
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 0.3°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 11, 1990 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 15, 1965.
Severe weather in Barron County since 1996
Barron County has been included in 10 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 Barron County
Barron County had 21,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,983 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Lakeland itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Lakeland
- Cumberland, WI4.1 mi · 2,274 people · home $181,100
- Cumberland, WI5.0 mi · 818 people · home $247,700
- Bear Lake, WI5.8 mi · 670 people · home $263,700
- Maple Plain, WI5.8 mi · 844 people · home $336,400
- Stanfold, WI7.0 mi · 701 people · home $282,200
- Crystal Lake, WI8.0 mi · 743 people · home $242,300
- Shell Lake, WI10.4 mi · 1,371 people · home $229,400
- Clinton, WI11.1 mi · 870 people · home $221,900
Lakeland questions
Is Lakeland, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakeland scores better for retirees than 92% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 85%. 29.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Lakeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakeland is valued at $267,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,750, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakeland?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 0.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 55.6 inches of snow.
Does Lakeland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 11, 1990. 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)