The Town FilesLake Wissota, Wisconsin
Community in Chippewa County · population 2,830 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,600
- Household income
- $105,150
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 50.6
Lake Wissota is a community of 2,830 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $334,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lake Wissota 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 Lake Wissota is worth $334,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $105,150, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,005 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Wissota | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,005 | $951 |
| Median household income | $105,150 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Wissota
| People | Lake Wissota | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lake Wissota
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 51.7 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
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wissota since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2008.
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 Lake Wissota itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Towns near Lake Wissota
- Lafayette, WI1.3 mi · 6,197 people · home $353,400
- Chippewa Falls, WI4.9 mi · 14,731 people · home $210,400
- Lake Hallie, WI6.8 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
- Seymour, WI7.1 mi · 3,352 people · home $320,200
- Eagle Point, WI9.4 mi · 3,237 people · home $371,700
- Altoona, WI11.4 mi · 8,293 people · home $233,100
- Eau Claire, WI12.5 mi · 69,421 people · home $247,600
- Wheaton, WI13.2 mi · 2,759 people · home $302,900
Lake Wissota questions
Is Lake Wissota, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Wissota scores better for retirees than 95% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 17%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Lake Wissota?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Wissota is valued at $334,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,150, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,005 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Wissota?
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 51.7 inches of snow.
Does Lake Wissota get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wissota 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)