Living in Chief Lake, Wisconsin
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Chief Lake · Census data 2020–2024
Chief Lake has 660 residents with a median age of 49.6. The median household income is $70,833 (9% lower than the Wisconsin median), the median home value is $215,000, the median rent is $721/month.
Chief Lake is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Chief Lake at a glance
- Population
- 660
- Median age
- 49.6State: 40.2
- Median household income
- $70,833State: $77,485
- Median home value
- $215,000State: $266,500
- Median rent
- $721/moState: $1,087
- Homeowners
- 78.7%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25.6%
- Average commute
- 19 min
Is Chief Lake a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 19% lower than the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes.
Cons: Median household income 9% lower than the Wisconsin median; unemployment of 9.4%; a poverty rate of 23.3%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Chief Lake
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Chief Lake the median home value is $215,000, 35% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $721 per month, which is 17.5% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,313 a month in housing costs.
Chief Lake median household income
The median household income in Chief Lake is $70,833 and the income per person is $40,648. 23.3% of residents live below the poverty line (Wisconsin: 10.6%).
Housing in Chief Lake: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 556
- Owner-occupied
- 78.7%
- Renter-occupied
- 21.3%
- Vacant
- 51.1%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1989
- Average household size
- 2.41
51.1% of homes are vacant most of the year, a sign that Chief Lake has many vacation and second homes.
Chief Lake demographics
- Population
- 660
- Median age
- 49.6
- Under 18
- 25.6%
- 65 and older
- 24.2%
- Households
- 272
- Foreign-born
- 0.6%
- Veterans
- 10.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Chief Lake ›
Education in Chief Lake
25.6% of adults 25 and older in Chief Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher (Wisconsin: 33.4%), and 12.3% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Chief Lake
- Unemployment rate
- 9.4%State: 3.2%
- Average commute
- 19 minState: 22 min
- Work from home
- 17.6%
- Drive alone
- 70%
- Public transit
- 1.2%
- Walk to work
- 0%
- Homes with broadband
- 82.7%
Chief Lake vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Lake | 660 | $70,833 | $215,000 | $721 |
| Little Round Lake | 1,295 | $37,535 | — | $417 |
| New Post | 340 | $50,000 | $326,600 | $575 |
| Reserve | 252 | $38,036 | $216,700 | $263 |
| Hayward | 2,555 | $45,665 | $184,700 | $829 |
| Couderay | 118 | $54,271 | $78,000 | — |
| Stone Lake | 127 | $43,393 | $193,400 | — |
| Radisson | 234 | $41,625 | $80,700 | $725 |
| Winter | 285 | $41,204 | $87,900 | $857 |
More for people moving to Chief Lake
Chief Lake ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Chief Lake: FAQ
What is the median household income in Chief Lake, WI?
The median household income in Chief Lake is $70,833, 9% lower than the Wisconsin median of $77,485 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Chief Lake?
The median home value in Chief Lake is $215,000, compared with $266,500 in Wisconsin.
How much is rent in Chief Lake?
The median gross rent in Chief Lake is $721 per month, about 17.5% of household income.
Is Chief Lake, WI a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 19% lower than the state median; an average commute of 19 minutes. Minuses: median household income 9% lower than the Wisconsin median; unemployment of 9.4%; a poverty rate of 23.3%.
What is the median age in Chief Lake?
The median age in Chief Lake is 49.6 years (Wisconsin: 40.2).
How long is the commute in Chief Lake?
The average commute to work in Chief Lake is 19 minutes; 17.6% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Chief Lake?
The unemployment rate in Chief Lake is 9.4% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Chief Lake?
25.6% of adults in Chief Lake have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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