The Town FilesPresque Isle, Wisconsin
Town in Vilas County · population 805 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $394,300
- Household income
- $88,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 64.3
Presque Isle is a town of 805 people in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $394,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Wisconsin towns.
How Presque Isle 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 Presque Isle is worth $394,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $88,125, which is more affordable than 6% of Wisconsin towns. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Presque Isle | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $394,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $88,125 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 74.0% | — |
Who lives in Presque Isle
| People | Presque Isle | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 7.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Presque Isle
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Presque Isle since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 26, 1969 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 12, 1973.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 18, 2004.
Severe weather in Vilas County since 1996
Vilas County has been included in 7 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 16, 1999 | Flood | DR-1284: Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
Jobs and pay in Vilas County
Vilas County had 8,275 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Presque Isle itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Presque Isle
- Boulder Junction, WI7.7 mi · 1,057 people · home $313,500
- Winchester, WI9.3 mi · 528 people · home $395,100
- Manitowish Waters, WI10.5 mi · 624 people · home $762,100
- Plum Lake, WI13.9 mi · 553 people · home $285,000
- Land O'Lakes, WI14.7 mi · 944 people · home $283,300
- Arbor Vitae, WI16.3 mi · 3,403 people · home $280,600
- Bessemer, MI17.2 mi · 1,135 people · home $103,900
- Mercer, WI17.3 mi · 551 people · home $212,500
Presque Isle questions
Is Presque Isle, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Presque Isle scores better for retirees than 99% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 99%. 48.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.3).
How much does a house cost in Presque Isle?
The median owner-occupied home in Presque Isle is valued at $394,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,125, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Presque Isle?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 0.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 78.7 inches of snow.
Does Presque Isle get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Presque Isle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 26, 1969. 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)