The Town FilesMinocqua, Wisconsin
Town in Oneida County · population 5,062 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $311,100
- Household income
- $69,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 57.5
Minocqua is a town of 5,062 people in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $311,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Minocqua 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 Minocqua is worth $311,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $69,112, which is more affordable than 6% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $955 a month. 73.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Minocqua | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $311,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $955 | $951 |
| Median household income | $69,112 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 42.8% | — |
Who lives in Minocqua
| People | Minocqua | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Minocqua
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 2.0°F. About 32.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Minocqua since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1985 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 16, 1997.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 24, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1332: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oneida County
Oneida County had 16,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Minocqua itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Minocqua
4 public schools with 1,286 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland High | 9-12 | 705 | 13.8 |
| Minocqua Elementary | PK-8 | 555 | 10.3 |
| Lakeland STAR Acad (LSA) (charter) | 9-12 | 21 | 5.3 |
| Lakeland STAR School--Strong Talented Adventurous Remarkable (charter) | 6-8 | 5 | 5.0 |
Towns near Minocqua
- Lac du Flambeau, WI10.0 mi · 3,552 people · home $340,900
- Arbor Vitae, WI13.9 mi · 3,403 people · home $280,600
- Newbold, WI19.1 mi · 2,831 people · home $274,000
- Pine Lake, WI25.3 mi · 2,724 people · home $272,000
- Tomahawk, WI25.3 mi · 3,441 people · home $173,300
- Rhinelander, WI25.7 mi · 8,285 people · home $125,700
Minocqua questions
Is Minocqua, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Minocqua scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 78%. 35.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Minocqua?
The median owner-occupied home in Minocqua is valued at $311,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,112, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $955 a month.
What is the weather like in Minocqua?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.2 inches of precipitation a year and 54.9 inches of snow.
Does Minocqua get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Minocqua since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 8, 1985. 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)