The Town FilesMellen, Wisconsin
City in Ashland County · population 698 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,100
- Household income
- $41,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 103 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 45.2
Mellen is a city of 698 people in Ashland County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $78,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 92% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Mellen 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 Mellen is worth $78,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $41,875, which is more affordable than 98% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $594 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mellen | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $594 | $951 |
| Median household income | $41,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Mellen
| People | Mellen | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Mellen
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 2.1°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 102.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mellen since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 27, 2010 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 5, 1962.
Severe weather in Ashland County since 1996
Ashland County has been included in 14 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 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ashland County
Ashland County had 7,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,101 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Mellen itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Mellen
1 public school with 254 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mellen Public School | PK-12 | 254 | 11.0 |
Towns near Mellen
- Ashland, WI5.3 mi · 589 people · home $126,800
- Jacobs, WI12.8 mi · 648 people · home $99,100
- White River, WI13.0 mi · 1,067 people · home $218,200
- Sanborn, WI15.3 mi · 1,381 people · home $105,700
- Gingles, WI17.1 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
- Grand View, WI19.5 mi · 508 people · home $248,200
- Ashland, WI20.5 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Montreal, WI21.3 mi · 801 people · home $97,800
Mellen questions
Is Mellen, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mellen scores better for retirees than 41% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 90%. 27.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Mellen?
The median owner-occupied home in Mellen is valued at $78,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,875, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $594 a month.
What is the weather like in Mellen?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 2.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 102.6 inches of snow.
Does Mellen get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mellen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 27, 2010. 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)