The Town Files

Vilas County, Wisconsin

23,647 people. The median home is worth $300,000 (typical Wisconsin town: $256,000) and the median household earns $68,431.

Towns in Vilas County

Towns in Vilas County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Lac du Flambeau3,552$340,900$57,00946.1
Arbor Vitae3,403$280,600$72,58345.7
Lincoln2,659$290,600$77,50053.7

People and housing

Vilas CountyTypical Wisconsin town
Median home value$300,000$256,000
Median rent$847$951
Median household income$68,431$82,217
Median age55.745.1
Bachelor's degree or higher30.9%23.8%
Below the poverty line11.1%7.2%

Jobs and pay

8,275 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,114 a year.

Largest industries in Vilas CountyHotels & restaurants1,696 jobs · $25,670Retail1,100 jobs · $36,632Construction703 jobs · $67,911Manufacturing441 jobs · $47,277Health care & social assistan…434 jobs · $64,415Administrative & support258 jobs · $48,188
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Vilas County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 504 storm events in Vilas County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Vilas County by type since 1996Hail96Drought47Dense Fog6High Wind7Ice Storm6Heavy Snow55Strong Wind17Winter Storm75Winter Weather6Cold/Wind Chill12
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Vilas County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
October 7, 2026TornadoDR-4949: Severe Storms And Tornadoes
April 4, 2020BiologicalDR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3454: Covid-19
September 13, 2005HurricaneEM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
August 16, 1999FloodDR-1284: Wi-Flood-07/20/99
July 10, 1984FloodEM-3091: Severe Storms & Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).