The Town FilesWillard, Wisconsin
Town in Rusk County · population 525 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,000
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.8
Willard is a town of 525 people in Rusk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $222,000, 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 81% of Wisconsin towns.
How Willard 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 Willard is worth $222,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,031 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willard | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,031 | $951 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.0% | — |
Who lives in Willard
| People | Willard | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Willard
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willard since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 30, 1977 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 62 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 8, 2000.
Severe weather in Rusk County since 1996
Rusk County has been included in 12 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 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Rusk County
Rusk County had 4,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,068 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Willard itself the ACS puts it at 11.8%.
Towns near Willard
- Grant, WI6.0 mi · 732 people · home $172,600
- Marshall, WI6.7 mi · 664 people · home $140,000
- Lake Holcombe, WI6.9 mi · 1,011 people · home $238,000
- Thornapple, WI8.6 mi · 721 people · home $180,900
- Ladysmith, WI9.2 mi · 3,216 people · home $124,200
- Cornell, WI11.5 mi · 1,453 people · home $155,800
- Bruce, WI11.9 mi · 781 people · home $87,100
- Stubbs, WI12.7 mi · 523 people · home $178,100
Willard questions
Is Willard, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willard scores better for retirees than 33% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 54%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Willard?
The median owner-occupied home in Willard is valued at $222,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,031 a month.
What is the weather like in Willard?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 42.1 inches of snow.
Does Willard get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Willard since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 30, 1977. 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)