The Town FilesWashburn, Wisconsin
Town in Bayfield County · population 554 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $248,300
- Household income
- $90,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 85 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 50.0
Washburn is a town of 554 people in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $248,300, close to 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 $248,300, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $90,833, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. 89.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $90,833 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.5% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 26.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 179 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 1985.
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 6.5%.
Towns near Washburn
- Barksdale, WI4.5 mi · 745 people · home $270,000
- Washburn, WI9.4 mi · 2,051 people · home $178,900
- Eileen, WI10.1 mi · 722 people · home $280,000
- Bayview, WI10.5 mi · 512 people · home $256,300
- Ashland, WI12.3 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Iron River, WI15.2 mi · 1,240 people · home $250,000
- Gingles, WI15.2 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
- Iron River, WI15.6 mi · 768 people · home $171,100
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%. 34.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $248,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,833, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 84.7 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Washburn in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)