The Town FilesWisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
City in Wood County · population 18,877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,900
- Household income
- $55,253
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.3
Wisconsin Rapids is a city of 18,877 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $131,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 93% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 91% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids is worth $131,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $55,253, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wisconsin Rapids | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $888 | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,253 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Wisconsin Rapids
| People | Wisconsin Rapids | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wisconsin Rapids
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wisconsin Rapids since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1964 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on June 7, 2007.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Wisconsin Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Wisconsin Rapids
11 public schools with 4,431 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High | 9-12 | 1,380 | 17.5 |
| Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle | 6-8 | 912 | 13.8 |
| Woodside Elementary | PK-5 | 341 | 11.8 |
| Howe Elementary | K-5 | 329 | 11.8 |
| Washington Elementary | PK-5 | 297 | 11.9 |
| Mead Elementary | PK-5 | 294 | 9.8 |
| Grant Elementary | PK-5 | 266 | 13.3 |
| Pitsch Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 241 | 18.5 |
| Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 198 | 10.4 |
| Central Oaks Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 97 | 19.4 |
| River Cities High | 9-12 | 76 | 19.0 |
Towns near Wisconsin Rapids
- Grand Rapids, WI3.7 mi · 7,576 people · home $223,500
- Lake Wazeecha, WI4.1 mi · 3,107 people · home $218,800
- Saratoga, WI7.6 mi · 5,060 people · home $175,600
- Rome, WI13.1 mi · 3,025 people · home $293,500
- Plover, WI15.0 mi · 13,519 people · home $269,800
- Stevens Point, WI16.4 mi · 25,666 people · home $195,400
- Hull, WI17.7 mi · 5,287 people · home $283,500
- Stockton, WI21.2 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
Wisconsin Rapids questions
Is Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wisconsin Rapids scores better for retirees than 8% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 7%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Wisconsin Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Wisconsin Rapids is valued at $131,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,253, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in Wisconsin Rapids?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.8 inches of snow.
Does Wisconsin Rapids get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wisconsin Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1964. 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)