The Town FilesRice Lake, Wisconsin
City in Barron County · population 9,040 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,800
- Household income
- $52,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 36.0
Rice Lake is a city of 9,040 people in Barron County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $193,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Wisconsin towns.
How Rice 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 Rice Lake is worth $193,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $52,417, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $856 a month. 55.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rice Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $856 | $951 |
| Median household income | $52,417 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Rice Lake
| People | Rice Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Rice Lake
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 1.7°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 16, 2017 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 23, 1965.
Severe weather in Barron County since 1996
Barron County has been included in 10 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barron County
Barron County had 21,519 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,983 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rice Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Rice Lake
5 public schools with 2,096 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Lake High | 9-12 | 712 | 13.4 |
| Rice Lake Middle | 5-8 | 610 | 11.7 |
| Tainter Elementary | PK-4 | 490 | 10.9 |
| Hilltop Elementary | K-4 | 264 | 11.0 |
| Hilltop Day Care and Preschool | PK-PK | 20 | — |
Towns near Rice Lake
- Rice Lake, WI2.5 mi · 2,813 people · home $237,000
- Stanley, WI3.7 mi · 2,570 people · home $249,100
- Barron, WI7.3 mi · 3,733 people · home $121,600
- Bloomer, WI29.0 mi · 3,683 people · home $214,000
Rice Lake questions
Is Rice Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rice Lake scores better for retirees than 38% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Rice Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Rice Lake is valued at $193,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,417, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $856 a month.
What is the weather like in Rice Lake?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 1.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 52.5 inches of snow.
Does Rice Lake get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 16, 2017. 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)