The Town FilesSpruce, Wisconsin
Town in Oconto County · population 918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,300
- Household income
- $75,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 46.8
Spruce is a town of 918 people in Oconto County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $222,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 74% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Spruce 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 Spruce is worth $222,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $75,417, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spruce | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $850 | $951 |
| Median household income | $75,417 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.7% | — |
Who lives in Spruce
| People | Spruce | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Spruce
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 5.1°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spruce since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 19, 1968 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 23, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 1, 2006.
Severe weather in Oconto County since 1996
Oconto County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 17, 1976 | Drought | EM-3014: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Oconto County
Oconto County had 9,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,685 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Spruce itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Spruce
- Oconto Falls, WI5.2 mi · 1,259 people · home $280,000
- Lena, WI5.9 mi · 743 people · home $209,000
- Maple Valley, WI6.2 mi · 647 people · home $178,400
- Lena, WI6.4 mi · 537 people · home $155,300
- Stiles, WI7.8 mi · 1,518 people · home $235,300
- Oconto Falls, WI7.8 mi · 2,957 people · home $162,800
- Gillett, WI8.4 mi · 989 people · home $203,100
- Gillett, WI8.7 mi · 1,289 people · home $118,200
Spruce questions
Is Spruce, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spruce scores better for retirees than 32% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 73%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.8).
How much does a house cost in Spruce?
The median owner-occupied home in Spruce is valued at $222,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,417, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Spruce?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 5.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 53.5 inches of snow.
Does Spruce get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spruce since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 19, 1968. 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)