The Town FilesTainter Lake, Wisconsin
Community in Dunn County · population 2,550 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,800
- Household income
- $105,781
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.6
Tainter Lake is a community of 2,550 people in Dunn County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $299,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 72% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Tainter Lake 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 Tainter Lake is worth $299,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $105,781, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,069 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tainter Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,069 | $951 |
| Median household income | $105,781 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.8% | — |
Who lives in Tainter Lake
| People | Tainter Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Tainter Lake
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tainter Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 4, 1958 about 4.4 miles from the town center and killed 20. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Dunn County since 1996
Dunn 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dunn County
Dunn County had 18,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,935 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Tainter Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Tainter Lake
- Tainter, WI0.7 mi · 2,643 people · home $297,500
- Menomonie, WI7.5 mi · 16,843 people · home $220,800
- Menomonie, WI9.7 mi · 3,415 people · home $276,800
- Wheaton, WI15.3 mi · 2,759 people · home $302,900
- Union, WI17.5 mi · 2,696 people · home $307,000
- Bloomer, WI19.1 mi · 3,683 people · home $214,000
- Eau Claire, WI20.9 mi · 69,421 people · home $247,600
- Lake Hallie, WI22.0 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
Tainter Lake questions
Is Tainter Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tainter Lake scores better for retirees than 67% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 18%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Tainter Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Tainter Lake is valued at $299,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,781, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,069 a month.
What is the weather like in Tainter Lake?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 40.9 inches of snow.
Does Tainter Lake get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tainter Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)