The Town FilesRiver Falls, Wisconsin
City in Pierce County · population 16,182 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $327,600
- Household income
- $83,627
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 28.6
River Falls is a city of 16,182 people in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $327,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 96% of Wisconsin towns.
How River Falls 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 River Falls is worth $327,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $83,627, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,107 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,107 | $951 |
| Median household income | $83,627 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in River Falls
| People | River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in River Falls
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 4.3°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Falls since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 24, 1958 about 2.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 19, 1988.
Severe weather in Pierce County since 1996
Pierce 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 11, 2001 | Flood | DR-1369: Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| July 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1236: Severe Storms,Straigh Line Winds, Tornadoes,Rain,And Floodi |
Jobs and pay in Pierce County
Pierce County had 10,512 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,483 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in River Falls itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in River Falls
9 public schools with 3,452 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Falls High | 9-12 | 1,082 | 16.1 |
| Meyer Middle | 6-8 | 731 | 15.2 |
| Rocky Branch Elementary | PK-5 | 412 | 13.3 |
| Westside Elementary | PK-5 | 411 | 14.7 |
| Greenwood Elementary | K-5 | 401 | 13.8 |
| River Falls 4 Children | PK-PK | 192 | 48.0 |
| River Falls Public Montessori Academy (charter) | PK-6 | 182 | 18.2 |
| Renaissance Charter Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 41 | 8.2 |
| River Falls eSchool (charter) | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near River Falls
- Troy, WI4.1 mi · 5,518 people · home $574,100
- Hudson, WI8.8 mi · 14,755 people · home $392,700
- Hudson, WI8.8 mi · 8,671 people · home $507,000
- Afton, MN9.8 mi · 2,955 people · home $679,300
- Prescott, WI10.9 mi · 4,333 people · home $306,900
- Ellsworth, WI11.2 mi · 3,348 people · home $262,200
- North Hudson, WI11.3 mi · 3,803 people · home $385,300
- West Lakeland, MN12.3 mi · 3,976 people · home $709,300
River Falls questions
Is River Falls, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, River Falls scores better for retirees than 30% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 2%. 11.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.6).
How much does a house cost in River Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in River Falls is valued at $327,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,627, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,107 a month.
What is the weather like in River Falls?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 4.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 49.7 inches of snow.
Does River Falls get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 24, 1958. 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)