The Town FilesNekoosa, Wisconsin
City in Wood County · population 2,449 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,900
- Household income
- $46,458
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.1
Nekoosa is a city of 2,449 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $116,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 85% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Nekoosa 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 Nekoosa is worth $116,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $46,458, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $699 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nekoosa | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $699 | $951 |
| Median household income | $46,458 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Nekoosa
| People | Nekoosa | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Nekoosa
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.7°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nekoosa since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 22, 2011 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on June 7, 2007.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Nekoosa itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Nekoosa
6 public schools with 1,226 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humke Elementary | PK-3 | 335 | 12.0 |
| Alexander Middle | 4-8 | 333 | 12.3 |
| Nekoosa High | 9-12 | 279 | 12.7 |
| WISE Academy (charter) | PK-12 | 218 | 72.7 |
| Central Wisconsin STEM Academy (charter) | 6-8 | 32 | 32.0 |
| Nekoosa Academy | 9-12 | 29 | 14.5 |
Towns near Nekoosa
- Port Edwards, WI4.0 mi · 1,356 people · home $167,900
- Port Edwards, WI4.2 mi · 1,762 people · home $158,600
- Saratoga, WI5.8 mi · 5,060 people · home $175,600
- Seneca, WI6.5 mi · 1,039 people · home $221,200
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI6.8 mi · 18,877 people · home $131,900
- Lake Arrowhead, WI8.2 mi · 946 people · home $310,300
- Rome, WI8.7 mi · 3,025 people · home $293,500
- Lake Wazeecha, WI8.8 mi · 3,107 people · home $218,800
Nekoosa questions
Is Nekoosa, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nekoosa scores better for retirees than 36% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 16%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Nekoosa?
The median owner-occupied home in Nekoosa is valued at $116,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,458, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $699 a month.
What is the weather like in Nekoosa?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.8 inches of snow.
Does Nekoosa get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nekoosa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 22, 2011. 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)