The Town FilesWhite River, Wisconsin
Town in Ashland County · population 1,067 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,200
- Household income
- $87,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 28.0
White River is a town of 1,067 people in Ashland County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $218,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Wisconsin towns.
How White River 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 White River is worth $218,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $87,917, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 84.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | White River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $950 | $951 |
| Median household income | $87,917 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 84.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.0% | — |
Who lives in White River
| People | White River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 39.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in White River
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 108.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 30, 1968 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Ashland County since 1996
Ashland County has been included in 14 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 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Ashland County
Ashland County had 7,940 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,101 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in White River itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near White River
- Gingles, WI6.2 mi · 738 people · home $225,000
- Ashland, WI7.7 mi · 589 people · home $126,800
- Eileen, WI8.9 mi · 722 people · home $280,000
- Ashland, WI9.1 mi · 7,908 people · home $176,400
- Sanborn, WI10.8 mi · 1,381 people · home $105,700
- Mellen, WI13.0 mi · 698 people · home $78,100
- Grand View, WI13.6 mi · 508 people · home $248,200
- Barksdale, WI14.6 mi · 745 people · home $270,000
White River questions
Is White River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White River scores better for retirees than 14% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 53%. 11.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in White River?
The median owner-occupied home in White River is valued at $218,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,917, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in White River?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 108.9 inches of snow.
Does White River get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 30, 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)