The Town FilesManitowish Waters, Wisconsin
Town in Vilas County · population 624 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $762,100
- Household income
- $71,932
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 62.6
Manitowish Waters is a town of 624 people in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $762,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 99% of Wisconsin towns.
How Manitowish Waters 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 Manitowish Waters is worth $762,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 10.6 times the median household income of $71,932, which is more affordable than 0% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,146 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manitowish Waters | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $762,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,146 | $951 |
| Median household income | $71,932 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 10.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 57.2% | — |
Who lives in Manitowish Waters
| People | Manitowish Waters | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 8.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Manitowish Waters
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitowish Waters since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 26, 1969 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 1973.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Vilas County since 1996
Vilas County has been included in 7 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 16, 1999 | Flood | DR-1284: Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
Jobs and pay in Vilas County
Vilas County had 8,275 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Manitowish Waters itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Manitowish Waters
1 public school with 145 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lakeland Elementary | PK-8 | 145 | 8.5 |
Towns near Manitowish Waters
- Winchester, WI7.4 mi · 528 people · home $395,100
- Boulder Junction, WI8.4 mi · 1,057 people · home $313,500
- Mercer, WI8.8 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
- Lac du Flambeau, WI10.4 mi · 3,552 people · home $340,900
- Presque Isle, WI10.5 mi · 805 people · home $394,300
- Lac du Flambeau, WI11.0 mi · 1,845 people · home $134,800
- Mercer, WI12.8 mi · 1,649 people · home $287,100
- Arbor Vitae, WI13.6 mi · 3,403 people · home $280,600
Manitowish Waters questions
Is Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manitowish Waters scores better for retirees than 99% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 98%. 44.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.6).
How much does a house cost in Manitowish Waters?
The median owner-occupied home in Manitowish Waters is valued at $762,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,932, so homes cost about 10.6 times income. Median rent is $1,146 a month.
What is the weather like in Manitowish Waters?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 75.2 inches of snow.
Does Manitowish Waters get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitowish Waters since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 26, 1969. 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)