The Town FilesFrench Island, Wisconsin
Community in La Crosse County · population 4,284 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $207,100
- Household income
- $60,202
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 48.2
French Island is a community of 4,284 people in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $207,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Wisconsin towns.
How French Island 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 French Island is worth $207,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $60,202, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,030 a month. 74.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | French Island | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,030 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,202 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in French Island
| People | French Island | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in French Island
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of French Island since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1965 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 124 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in La Crosse County since 1996
La Crosse County has been included in 18 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in La Crosse County
La Crosse County had 69,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,448 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in French Island itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Towns near French Island
- Campbell, WI2.5 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- La Crosse, WI3.0 mi · 52,680 people · home $210,100
- La Crescent, MN3.0 mi · 5,276 people · home $272,400
- Onalaska, WI3.5 mi · 18,803 people · home $288,900
- Onalaska, WI5.3 mi · 5,835 people · home $320,100
- Shelby, WI7.3 mi · 4,804 people · home $301,200
- Holmen, WI7.8 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- West Salem, WI9.1 mi · 5,277 people · home $277,100
French Island questions
Is French Island, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, French Island scores better for retirees than 61% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 34%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in French Island?
The median owner-occupied home in French Island is valued at $207,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,202, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,030 a month.
What is the weather like in French Island?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 42.9 inches of snow.
Does French Island get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of French Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1965. 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)