The Town FilesLincoln, Wisconsin
Town in Forest County · population 1,133 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,300
- Household income
- $79,091
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.1
Lincoln is a town of 1,133 people in Forest County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $212,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lincoln 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 Lincoln is worth $212,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $79,091, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $433 a month. 92.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lincoln | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $433 | $951 |
| Median household income | $79,091 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 92.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.5% | — |
Who lives in Lincoln
| People | Lincoln | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lincoln
July highs average 73.4°F and January lows 4.0°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 10, 2011 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 7, 2005.
Severe weather in Forest County since 1996
Forest County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Tornado | DR-4949: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Forest County
Forest County had 3,244 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,541 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Lincoln itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Lincoln
- Crandon, WI2.0 mi · 1,713 people · home $136,500
- Crandon, WI6.6 mi · 606 people · home $168,400
- Nashville, WI7.0 mi · 1,215 people · home $218,500
- Mole Lake, WI7.0 mi · 535 people · home $128,100
- Laona, WI8.2 mi · 1,215 people · home $191,800
- Laona, WI9.4 mi · 519 people · home $128,100
- Elcho, WI17.0 mi · 1,168 people · home $212,800
- Argonne, WI17.0 mi · 546 people · home $166,700
Lincoln questions
Is Lincoln, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lincoln scores better for retirees than 42% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 68%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Lincoln?
The median owner-occupied home in Lincoln is valued at $212,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,091, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $433 a month.
What is the weather like in Lincoln?
July highs average 73.4°F and January lows 4.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 80.1 inches of snow.
Does Lincoln get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lincoln since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 10, 2011. 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)