The Town FilesMartell, Wisconsin
Town in Pierce County · population 1,147 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $356,900
- Household income
- $94,519
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 54.5
Martell is a town of 1,147 people in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $356,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Martell 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 Martell is worth $356,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $94,519, which is more affordable than 19% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 95.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Martell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $356,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $950 | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,519 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Martell
| People | Martell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 37.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Martell
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martell since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 4, 1958 about 7.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 1980.
Severe weather in Pierce County since 1996
Pierce County has been included in 13 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 11, 2001 | Flood | DR-1369: Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| July 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1236: Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And Floodi |
Jobs and pay in Pierce County
Pierce County had 10,512 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,483 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Martell itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Martell
- Gilman, WI6.0 mi · 1,006 people · home $362,600
- Ellsworth, WI6.1 mi · 3,348 people · home $262,200
- Rush River, WI6.2 mi · 500 people · home $414,800
- Ellsworth, WI6.3 mi · 1,121 people · home $387,400
- Pleasant Valley, WI6.4 mi · 567 people · home $439,300
- River Falls, WI7.1 mi · 2,215 people · home $390,500
- El Paso, WI7.9 mi · 724 people · home $266,700
- Eau Galle, WI8.2 mi · 1,253 people · home $421,200
Martell questions
Is Martell, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Martell scores better for retirees than 45% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 19%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in Martell?
The median owner-occupied home in Martell is valued at $356,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,519, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Martell?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 45.3 inches of snow.
Does Martell get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 4, 1958. 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)