The Town FilesOulu, Wisconsin
Town in Bayfield County · population 560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,100
- Household income
- $96,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 54.4
Oulu is a town of 560 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $257,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Oulu 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 Oulu is worth $257,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $96,875, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oulu | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $842 | $951 |
| Median household income | $96,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.0% | — |
Who lives in Oulu
| People | Oulu | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Oulu
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 190 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oulu since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 18, 2020 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Bayfield County since 1996
Bayfield County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Bayfield County
Bayfield County had 4,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Oulu itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Oulu
- Iron River, WI5.7 mi · 768 people · home $171,100
- Brule, WI6.8 mi · 607 people · home $227,100
- Iron River, WI8.5 mi · 1,240 people · home $250,000
- Maple, WI10.3 mi · 700 people · home $201,300
- Lake Nebagamon, WI13.8 mi · 1,123 people · home $284,500
- Poplar, WI14.3 mi · 629 people · home $255,600
- Lakeside, WI16.9 mi · 681 people · home $244,000
- Hawthorne, WI18.4 mi · 1,058 people · home $232,900
Oulu questions
Is Oulu, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oulu scores better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 96%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.4).
How much does a house cost in Oulu?
The median owner-occupied home in Oulu is valued at $257,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,875, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Oulu?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.2 inches of snow.
Does Oulu get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oulu since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 18, 2020. 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)