The Town FilesMole Lake, Wisconsin
Community in Forest County · population 535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,100
- Household income
- $38,889
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 36.6
Mole Lake is a community of 535 people in Forest County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $128,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 77% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 75% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Mole Lake 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 Mole Lake is worth $128,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $38,889, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $400 a month. 31.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mole Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $400 | $951 |
| Median household income | $38,889 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 31.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Mole Lake
| People | Mole Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 12.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Mole Lake
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 73.9 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 Mole Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1985 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
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 Mole Lake itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Towns near Mole Lake
- Nashville, WI1.8 mi · 1,215 people · home $218,500
- Crandon, WI6.8 mi · 1,713 people · home $136,500
- Lincoln, WI7.0 mi · 1,133 people · home $212,300
- Crandon, WI7.9 mi · 606 people · home $168,400
- Elcho, WI10.1 mi · 1,168 people · home $212,800
- Upham, WI14.4 mi · 726 people · home $299,100
- Laona, WI14.5 mi · 1,215 people · home $191,800
- Laona, WI15.7 mi · 519 people · home $128,100
Mole Lake questions
Is Mole Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mole Lake scores better for retirees than 46% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 75%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Mole Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Mole Lake is valued at $128,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,889, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $400 a month.
What is the weather like in Mole Lake?
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 73.9 inches of snow.
Does Mole Lake get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mole Lake 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)