The Town FilesBlack River Falls, Wisconsin
City in Jackson County · population 3,523 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,800
- Household income
- $66,632
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.1
Black River Falls is a city of 3,523 people in Jackson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $171,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 90% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 89% of Wisconsin towns.
How Black River Falls 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 Black River Falls is worth $171,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $66,632, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $543 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Black River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $543 | $951 |
| Median household income | $66,632 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Black River Falls
| People | Black River Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Black River Falls
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black River Falls since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 4, 1964 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 7,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,504 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Black River Falls itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Black River Falls
6 public schools with 1,603 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Falls High | 9-12 | 504 | 13.3 |
| Red Creek Elementary | 2-5 | 458 | 12.1 |
| Black River Falls Middle | 6-8 | 337 | 11.2 |
| Forrest Street Elementary School | PK-1 | 304 | 12.7 |
| Black River Correctional Center | 12-12 | — | — |
| Jackson Correctional Institution | 12-12 | — | — |
Towns near Black River Falls
- Brockway, WI3.4 mi · 3,035 people · home $159,000
- Sparta, WI22.8 mi · 3,253 people · home $275,000
- Sparta, WI24.9 mi · 10,025 people · home $180,600
- Tomah, WI27.2 mi · 9,570 people · home $174,300
Black River Falls questions
Is Black River Falls, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Black River Falls scores better for retirees than 67% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 30%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Black River Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Black River Falls is valued at $171,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,632, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $543 a month.
What is the weather like in Black River Falls?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 4.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Black River Falls get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black River Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 4, 1964. 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)