The Town FilesRound Lake, Wisconsin
Town in Sawyer County · population 1,081 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $397,600
- Household income
- $62,011
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 60.1
Round Lake is a town of 1,081 people in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $397,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 98% of Wisconsin towns.
How Round 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 Round Lake is worth $397,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $62,011, which is more affordable than 0% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 96.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Round Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $397,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $951 |
| Median household income | $62,011 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 96.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.1% | — |
Who lives in Round Lake
| People | Round Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Round Lake
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 0.7°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 1 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 Round Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 12, 1998 about 4.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 12, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Sawyer County since 1996
Sawyer County has been included in 9 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 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms 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 Sawyer County
Sawyer County had 7,250 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,406 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Round Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Round Lake
- Hunter, WI9.3 mi · 779 people · home $291,700
- Chief Lake, WI12.9 mi · 582 people · home $215,000
- Little Round Lake, WI13.3 mi · 1,242 people · home —
- Cable, WI14.1 mi · 853 people · home $179,200
- Hayward, WI14.5 mi · 3,765 people · home $241,600
- Lenroot, WI16.0 mi · 1,337 people · home $300,700
- Bass Lake, WI17.8 mi · 2,731 people · home $267,000
- Hayward, WI18.2 mi · 2,533 people · home $184,700
Round Lake questions
Is Round Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Round Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 98%. 38.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.1).
How much does a house cost in Round Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Round Lake is valued at $397,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,011, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Round Lake?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 0.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Round Lake get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Round Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 12, 1998. 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)