The Town FilesChippewa Falls, Wisconsin
City in Chippewa County · population 14,731 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,400
- Household income
- $57,873
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 39.2
Chippewa Falls is a city of 14,731 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $210,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 96% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chippewa 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 Chippewa Falls is worth $210,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $57,873, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 50.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chippewa Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $910 | $951 |
| Median household income | $57,873 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 50.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Chippewa Falls
| People | Chippewa Falls | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chippewa Falls
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chippewa Falls since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 1.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 11 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 |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 26,613 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Chippewa Falls itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Chippewa Falls
10 public schools with 4,521 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Falls High | 9-12 | 1,451 | 15.4 |
| Chippewa Falls Middle | 6-8 | 1,037 | 14.0 |
| Halmstad Elementary | K-5 | 372 | 13.8 |
| Parkview Elementary | K-5 | 359 | 12.0 |
| Hillcrest Elementary | K-5 | 348 | 14.5 |
| Stillson Elementary | K-5 | 335 | 15.2 |
| Korger-Chestnut | PK-PK | 319 | 26.6 |
| Southview Elementary | PK-5 | 296 | 13.5 |
| Northern Wisconsin Center | K-12 | 4 | — |
| Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facililty | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Chippewa Falls
- Lake Hallie, WI3.3 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
- Lake Wissota, WI4.9 mi · 2,830 people · home $334,600
- Lafayette, WI5.0 mi · 6,197 people · home $353,400
- Seymour, WI7.6 mi · 3,352 people · home $320,200
- Wheaton, WI8.5 mi · 2,759 people · home $302,900
- Eagle Point, WI8.8 mi · 3,237 people · home $371,700
- Eau Claire, WI9.6 mi · 69,421 people · home $247,600
- Altoona, WI9.6 mi · 8,293 people · home $233,100
Chippewa Falls questions
Is Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chippewa Falls scores better for retirees than 34% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 6%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Chippewa Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Chippewa Falls is valued at $210,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,873, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Chippewa Falls?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 55.4 inches of snow.
Does Chippewa Falls get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chippewa Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. 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)