The Town FilesRussell, Wisconsin
Town in Bayfield County · population 1,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,300
- Household income
- $48,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 106 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 34.9
Russell is a town of 1,553 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $118,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 96% of Wisconsin towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Wisconsin With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #7 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
- #15 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #15 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
How Russell 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 Russell is worth $118,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $48,068, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $500 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Russell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $500 | $951 |
| Median household income | $48,068 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.1% | — |
Who lives in Russell
| People | Russell | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Russell
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 106.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Russell since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 29, 2014.
Severe weather in Bayfield County since 1996
Bayfield County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bayfield County
Bayfield County had 4,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,107 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Russell itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Towns near Russell
- Bayfield, WI6.8 mi · 787 people · home $326,000
- Bayfield, WI9.1 mi · 584 people · home $320,100
- Bayview, WI14.7 mi · 512 people · home $256,300
- Washburn, WI18.8 mi · 2,051 people · home $178,900
- Washburn, WI22.6 mi · 554 people · home $248,300
- Ashland, WI25.2 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Barksdale, WI25.6 mi · 745 people · home $270,000
- Gingles, WI28.2 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
Russell questions
Is Russell, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Russell scores better for retirees than 100% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 79%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Russell?
The median owner-occupied home in Russell is valued at $118,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,068, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $500 a month.
What is the weather like in Russell?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 106.3 inches of snow.
Does Russell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Russell in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)