The Town FilesRusk, Wisconsin
Town in Rusk County · population 551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,800
- Household income
- $76,402
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 58.3
Rusk is a town of 551 people in Rusk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $209,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 94% of Wisconsin towns.
How Rusk 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 Rusk is worth $209,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $76,402, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rusk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $950 | $951 |
| Median household income | $76,402 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 52.4% | — |
Who lives in Rusk
| People | Rusk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 9.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 19.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 42.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Rusk
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rusk since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 16, 2017 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 4, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 14, 2000.
Severe weather in Rusk County since 1996
Rusk County has been included in 12 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 Rusk County
Rusk County had 4,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,068 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Rusk itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Rusk
- Chetek, WI5.4 mi · 1,726 people · home $317,600
- Sampson, WI7.1 mi · 972 people · home $292,300
- Dovre, WI8.0 mi · 825 people · home $201,100
- Sumner, WI8.1 mi · 699 people · home $302,100
- Chetek, WI8.2 mi · 2,172 people · home $171,200
- Stubbs, WI9.7 mi · 523 people · home $178,100
- New Auburn, WI10.2 mi · 562 people · home $169,900
- Bloomer, WI11.9 mi · 1,090 people · home $295,100
Rusk questions
Is Rusk, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rusk scores better for retirees than 63% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 94%. 32.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.3).
How much does a house cost in Rusk?
The median owner-occupied home in Rusk is valued at $209,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,402, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Rusk?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 49.4 inches of snow.
Does Rusk get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rusk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)