The Town FilesPelican, Wisconsin
Town in Oneida County · population 2,809 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,300
- Household income
- $62,198
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 82 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 55.0
Pelican is a town of 2,809 people in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $217,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Pelican 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 Pelican is worth $217,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $62,198, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $829 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelican | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $829 | $951 |
| Median household income | $62,198 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.9% | — |
Who lives in Pelican
| People | Pelican | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Pelican
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 32.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 81.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 197 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelican since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 25, 1950 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 19, 1963.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1332: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oneida County
Oneida County had 16,637 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,857 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Pelican itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Pelican
- Rhinelander, WI5.2 mi · 8,285 people · home $125,700
- Pine Lake, WI7.1 mi · 2,724 people · home $272,000
- Newbold, WI14.6 mi · 2,831 people · home $274,000
- Tomahawk, WI19.7 mi · 3,441 people · home $173,300
- Lincoln, WI22.1 mi · 2,659 people · home $290,600
- Merrill, WI29.1 mi · 2,881 people · home $197,500
Pelican questions
Is Pelican, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelican scores better for retirees than 35% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 57%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.0).
How much does a house cost in Pelican?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelican is valued at $217,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,198, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $829 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelican?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.5 inches of precipitation a year and 81.6 inches of snow.
Does Pelican get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelican since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 25, 1950. 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)