The Town FilesSand Lake, Wisconsin
Town in Burnett County · population 576 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,800
- Household income
- $63,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 52.0
Sand Lake is a town of 576 people in Burnett County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $280,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Sand 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 Sand Lake is worth $280,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $63,646, which is more affordable than 7% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sand Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $717 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,646 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.0% | — |
Who lives in Sand Lake
| People | Sand Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 16.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 19.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Sand Lake
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 2001 about 4.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 18, 2004.
Severe weather in Burnett County since 1996
Burnett County has been included in 10 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 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Burnett County
Burnett County had 5,070 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,320 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Sand Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Sand Lake
- Meenon, WI4.9 mi · 1,212 people · home $199,700
- Jackson, WI5.1 mi · 935 people · home $242,400
- Webster, WI6.6 mi · 694 people · home $116,800
- La Follette, WI6.6 mi · 559 people · home $308,600
- Siren, WI8.2 mi · 1,004 people · home $246,000
- Oakland, WI8.2 mi · 980 people · home $244,900
- Scott, WI8.3 mi · 583 people · home $341,400
- Dewey, WI9.3 mi · 545 people · home $219,100
Sand Lake questions
Is Sand Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sand Lake scores better for retirees than 82% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 95%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Sand Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Sand Lake is valued at $280,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,646, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Sand Lake?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 54.4 inches of snow.
Does Sand Lake get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 2001. 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)