The Town FilesThree Lakes, Wisconsin
Town in Oneida County · population 2,413 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $325,500
- Household income
- $70,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 60.1
Three Lakes is a town of 2,413 people in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $325,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Three Lakes 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 Three Lakes is worth $325,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $70,250, which is more affordable than 5% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Three Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $828 | $951 |
| Median household income | $70,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.8% | — |
Who lives in Three Lakes
| People | Three Lakes | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Three Lakes
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Three Lakes since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1981 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 1999.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 9 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 24, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1332: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oneida County
Oneida County had 16,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Three Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Three Lakes
3 public schools with 389 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Lakes Elementary | PK-6 | 166 | 16.6 |
| Three Lakes High | 9-12 | 146 | 9.7 |
| Three Lakes Junior High | 7-8 | 77 | 11.0 |
Towns near Three Lakes
- Three Lakes, WI1.2 mi · 605 people · home $170,000
- Lincoln, WI8.5 mi · 2,659 people · home $290,600
- Stella, WI9.0 mi · 569 people · home $218,200
- Sugar Camp, WI9.4 mi · 1,819 people · home $280,700
- Washington, WI9.4 mi · 1,587 people · home $334,700
- Eagle River, WI9.8 mi · 1,628 people · home $213,900
- Argonne, WI13.7 mi · 546 people · home $166,700
- Cloverland, WI14.2 mi · 1,068 people · home $272,000
Three Lakes questions
Is Three Lakes, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Three Lakes scores better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 95%. 38.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.1).
How much does a house cost in Three Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Three Lakes is valued at $325,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,250, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Three Lakes?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 75.4 inches of snow.
Does Three Lakes get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Three Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1981. 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)