The Town FilesSuperior, Wisconsin
City in Douglas County · population 26,751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,400
- Household income
- $64,216
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 39.1
Superior is a city of 26,751 people in Douglas County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $180,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 97% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Superior 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 Superior is worth $180,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $64,216, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 60.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Superior | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $900 | $951 |
| Median household income | $64,216 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Superior
| People | Superior | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Superior
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Superior since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 9, 2012 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on September 8, 1958.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 10 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 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 2, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4076: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 16,039 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,809 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Superior itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Superior
7 public schools with 3,549 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior High | 9-12 | 1,290 | 14.0 |
| Superior Middle | 6-8 | 908 | 13.8 |
| Northern Lights Elementary | PK-5 | 452 | 14.1 |
| Great Lakes Elementary | PK-5 | 358 | 16.3 |
| Cooper Elementary | PK-5 | 308 | 14.0 |
| Lake Superior Elementary | PK-5 | 141 | 15.7 |
| Superior Community Preschool | PK-PK | 92 | 23.0 |
Towns near Superior
- Duluth, MN6.2 mi · 86,697 people · home $242,700
- Proctor, MN7.8 mi · 3,120 people · home $224,700
- Hermantown, MN10.8 mi · 10,221 people · home $382,300
- Thomson, MN13.4 mi · 5,465 people · home $339,000
- Rice Lake, MN15.2 mi · 4,112 people · home $309,600
- Cloquet, MN20.1 mi · 12,568 people · home $212,700
- Grand Lake, MN21.3 mi · 2,720 people · home $329,000
Superior questions
Is Superior, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Superior scores better for retirees than 3% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 3%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Superior?
The median owner-occupied home in Superior is valued at $180,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,216, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Superior?
July highs average 76.1°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 56.0 inches of snow.
Does Superior get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Superior since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 9, 2012. 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)