The Town FilesMarshfield, Wisconsin
City in Wood County · population 18,929 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $177,800
- Household income
- $58,407
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.2
Marshfield is a city of 18,929 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $177,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 94% of Wisconsin towns.
How Marshfield 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 Marshfield is worth $177,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $58,407, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marshfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $842 | $951 |
| Median household income | $58,407 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Marshfield
| People | Marshfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Marshfield
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 24.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marshfield since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 23, 2011 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 23, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 13 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 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Marshfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Marshfield
8 public schools with 3,682 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshfield High | 9-12 | 1,244 | 15.4 |
| Grant Elementary | PK-6 | 584 | 15.8 |
| Marshfield Middle | 7-8 | 555 | 13.9 |
| Washington Elementary | PK-6 | 312 | 15.6 |
| Lincoln Elementary | PK-6 | 278 | 12.6 |
| Madison Elementary | PK-6 | 274 | 11.4 |
| Nasonville Elementary | K-6 | 262 | 14.6 |
| Marshfield K4 | PK-PK | 173 | 57.7 |
Towns near Marshfield
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI25.3 mi · 18,877 people · home $131,900
- Mosinee, WI25.5 mi · 4,452 people · home $156,100
- Grand Rapids, WI28.4 mi · 7,576 people · home $223,500
- Rib Mountain, WI28.9 mi · 6,061 people · home $255,900
- Lake Wazeecha, WI29.0 mi · 3,107 people · home $218,800
- Stettin, WI29.3 mi · 2,580 people · home $370,100
Marshfield questions
Is Marshfield, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marshfield scores better for retirees than 40% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 9%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Marshfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Marshfield is valued at $177,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,407, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Marshfield?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.1 inches of snow.
Does Marshfield get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marshfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 23, 2011. 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)