The Town FilesRiver Falls, Wisconsin
Town in Pierce County · population 2,215 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $390,500
- Household income
- $118,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 40.8
River Falls is a town of 2,215 people in Pierce County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $390,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% 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 $390,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $118,500, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,446 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $390,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,446 | $951 |
| Median household income | $118,500 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.6% | — |
Who lives in River Falls
| People | River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 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 46.7 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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Falls since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 24, 1958 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 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 2.9%.
Towns near River Falls
- River Falls, WI4.0 mi · 16,182 people · home $327,600
- Trimbelle, WI5.6 mi · 1,679 people · home $333,000
- Kinnickinnic, WI6.5 mi · 1,815 people · home $450,300
- Martell, WI7.1 mi · 1,147 people · home $356,900
- Ellsworth, WI7.2 mi · 3,348 people · home $262,200
- Clifton, WI7.3 mi · 2,177 people · home $460,300
- Oak Grove, WI8.0 mi · 2,361 people · home $531,400
- Troy, WI8.1 mi · 5,518 people · home $574,100
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 43% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 13%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in River Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in River Falls is valued at $390,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $118,500, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,446 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 46.7 inches of snow.
Does River Falls get tornadoes?
23 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)