The Town FilesRhinelander, Wisconsin
City in Oneida County · population 8,285 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,700
- Household income
- $51,421
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 82 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.2
Rhinelander is a city of 8,285 people in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $125,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Rhinelander 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 Rhinelander is worth $125,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $51,421, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rhinelander | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $804 | $951 |
| Median household income | $51,421 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Rhinelander
| People | Rhinelander | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Rhinelander
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 3.7°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 81.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rhinelander 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 0.0 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 31 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 Rhinelander itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Rhinelander
6 public schools with 2,255 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinelander High | 9-12 | 756 | 16.1 |
| James Williams Middle | 6-8 | 472 | 12.8 |
| Crescent Elementary | PK-5 | 368 | 10.5 |
| Central Elementary | PK-5 | 271 | 10.8 |
| Pelican Elementary | PK-5 | 265 | 9.1 |
| Sugar Camp Elementary | PK-6 | 123 | 12.3 |
Towns near Rhinelander
- Pine Lake, WI3.9 mi · 2,724 people · home $272,000
- Pelican, WI5.2 mi · 2,809 people · home $217,300
- Newbold, WI10.2 mi · 2,831 people · home $274,000
- Tomahawk, WI17.4 mi · 3,441 people · home $173,300
- Lincoln, WI20.8 mi · 2,659 people · home $290,600
- Minocqua, WI25.7 mi · 5,062 people · home $311,100
- Arbor Vitae, WI26.2 mi · 3,403 people · home $280,600
- Merrill, WI29.4 mi · 2,881 people · home $197,500
Rhinelander questions
Is Rhinelander, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rhinelander scores better for retirees than 15% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 12%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Rhinelander?
The median owner-occupied home in Rhinelander is valued at $125,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,421, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Rhinelander?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 3.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 81.6 inches of snow.
Does Rhinelander get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rhinelander 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)