The Town FilesTomahawk, Wisconsin
City in Lincoln County · population 3,441 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,300
- Household income
- $60,223
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.8
Tomahawk is a city of 3,441 people in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $173,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 81% of Wisconsin towns.
How Tomahawk 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 Tomahawk is worth $173,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $60,223, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $529 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tomahawk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $529 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,223 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.0% | — |
Who lives in Tomahawk
| People | Tomahawk | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Tomahawk
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tomahawk 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 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 9 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 2, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-994: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 9,997 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,054 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Tomahawk itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Tomahawk
3 public schools with 1,142 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomahawk Elementary | PK-5 | 526 | 12.8 |
| Tomahawk High | 9-12 | 353 | 14.1 |
| Tomahawk Middle | 6-8 | 263 | 12.5 |
Towns near Tomahawk
- Merrill, WI16.2 mi · 2,881 people · home $197,500
- Rhinelander, WI17.4 mi · 8,285 people · home $125,700
- Pelican, WI19.7 mi · 2,809 people · home $217,300
- Merrill, WI20.6 mi · 9,347 people · home $123,800
- Pine Lake, WI20.8 mi · 2,724 people · home $272,000
- Newbold, WI22.9 mi · 2,831 people · home $274,000
- Minocqua, WI25.3 mi · 5,062 people · home $311,100
- Maine, WI29.1 mi · 2,613 people · home $277,500
Tomahawk questions
Is Tomahawk, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tomahawk scores better for retirees than 24% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 29%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Tomahawk?
The median owner-occupied home in Tomahawk is valued at $173,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,223, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $529 a month.
What is the weather like in Tomahawk?
July highs average 76.5°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 64.1 inches of snow.
Does Tomahawk get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tomahawk 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)