The Town FilesSchley, Wisconsin
Town in Lincoln County · population 950 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,000
- Household income
- $82,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 49.9
Schley is a town of 950 people in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $217,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 81% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 76% of Wisconsin towns.
How Schley 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 Schley is worth $217,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $82,917, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 90.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Schley | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $794 | $951 |
| Median household income | $82,917 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.7% | — |
Who lives in Schley
| People | Schley | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 37.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Schley
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Schley since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2011 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 16, 1997.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 2, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-994: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 9,997 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,054 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Schley itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Schley
- Pine River, WI6.0 mi · 1,874 people · home $280,000
- Russell, WI7.6 mi · 693 people · home $204,400
- Merrill, WI8.1 mi · 2,881 people · home $197,500
- Birch, WI8.1 mi · 570 people · home $218,400
- Merrill, WI10.5 mi · 9,347 people · home $123,800
- Rock Falls, WI12.3 mi · 635 people · home $165,900
- Texas, WI12.4 mi · 1,611 people · home $231,100
- Scott, WI12.5 mi · 1,377 people · home $266,400
Schley questions
Is Schley, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Schley scores better for retirees than 17% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 81%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Schley?
The median owner-occupied home in Schley is valued at $217,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,917, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Schley?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Schley get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Schley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2011. 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)