The Town FilesWood River, Wisconsin
Town in Burnett County · population 898 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,100
- Household income
- $82,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 53.6
Wood River is a town of 898 people in Burnett County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $253,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 94% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wood 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 Wood River is worth $253,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $82,857, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wood River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $82,857 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 44.0% | — |
Who lives in Wood River
| People | Wood River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wood River
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 1.2°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 18, 2001 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Burnett County since 1996
Burnett County has been included in 10 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Burnett County
Burnett County had 5,070 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,320 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Wood River itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Wood River
- Grantsburg, WI4.0 mi · 1,330 people · home $153,300
- Grantsburg, WI6.1 mi · 1,174 people · home $206,400
- Daniels, WI6.2 mi · 676 people · home $233,300
- Trade Lake, WI6.8 mi · 904 people · home $253,700
- West Sweden, WI8.8 mi · 744 people · home $231,400
- Siren, WI10.1 mi · 824 people · home $190,400
- Frederic, WI10.9 mi · 1,154 people · home $153,500
- Siren, WI12.6 mi · 1,004 people · home $246,000
Wood River questions
Is Wood River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wood River scores better for retirees than 38% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 87%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Wood River?
The median owner-occupied home in Wood River is valued at $253,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,857, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Wood River?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 1.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 52.2 inches of snow.
Does Wood River get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wood River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 18, 2001. 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)