The Town FilesWashburn, Wisconsin
City in Bayfield County · population 2,051 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,900
- Household income
- $62,128
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 85 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 51.7
Washburn is a city of 2,051 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $178,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Washburn 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 Washburn is worth $178,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $62,128, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $798 | $951 |
| Median household income | $62,128 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 3.6°F. About 32.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 11, 2014 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 26, 2019.
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 Washburn itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in Washburn
3 public schools with 575 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Elementary | PK-6 | 302 | 12.1 |
| Washburn High | 9-12 | 189 | 13.5 |
| Washburn Middle | 7-8 | 84 | 10.5 |
Towns near Washburn
- Bayview, WI4.2 mi · 512 people · home $256,300
- Ashland, WI6.7 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Barksdale, WI9.1 mi · 745 people · home $270,000
- Washburn, WI9.4 mi · 554 people · home $248,300
- Gingles, WI10.0 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
- Bayfield, WI10.3 mi · 584 people · home $320,100
- Eileen, WI10.4 mi · 722 people · home $280,000
- Sanborn, WI13.9 mi · 1,381 people · home $105,700
Washburn questions
Is Washburn, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washburn scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 68%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $178,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,128, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 3.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.6 inches of precipitation a year and 84.9 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 11, 2014. 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)