Sevona Cabin · National Register of Historic Places
Bayfield’s story
Bayfield in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1870.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
Photo: The original uploader was Nationalparks at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
Population
809
2025 Census estimate · +4.7% since 2020
Median home value
$326K
Census ACS
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
62.9
years
Jobs based here
264
Balanced
Is Bayfield a good place to live?
43% of residents are 65 or older in Bayfield, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 20% and U.S. towns at 18%. No town among the 363 in Wisconsin we compare has a lower share of children under 18 than Bayfield. 46% of the land in Bayfield is conserved, against 3.8% in Wisconsin’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Bayfield County Forest, 32,453 acres with 64.3 miles of trail. Bayfield has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Bayfield stand out
Where Bayfield beats most towns.
Small town
809 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
RussellBellBayviewBayfield
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bayfield: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bayfield, and how to reach them.
PowerBayfield Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterRed Cliff North water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpBRB Recycling Transfer CenterDrop-offTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Bayfield ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5481454814 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bayfield.
Outdoors
Conserved land covers nearly a third of Bayfield
103 miles of trail in 12 parks and preserves. Bayfield’s trail density is 0.8 miles per square mile.
46.1%conserved
46.1%
conserved · 39,233 of 85,058 acres
103 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bayfield County Forest | 64.3 mi | 32,453 |
| 2. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | 16.1 mi | 5,011 |
| 3. Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area | 3 mi | 502 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
The FEMA risk score in Bayfield is lower than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
The FEMA risk score in Bayfield is 1 of 100.
1risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingStrong wind
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Bayfield, a typical July afternoon runs cooler than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Only 2 of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower July high than Bayfield. Bayfield has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
106″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–25°
Spring28–49°
Summer53–74°
Fall36–53°
Oct 8
typical first frost
May 20
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Bayfield
Most working residents leave Bayfield for work: only 14% work in town. Since 2013, Bayfield has added 112 jobs, to 264 in 2023. 3.9% of Bayfield residents live below the poverty line.
14%work in town
| Bayfield | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 13 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $72,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Bayfield14%
Bayfield27%
Russell14%
Ashland6%
Washburn5%
9 mi
median commute distance
264
jobs based in Bayfield
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Bayfield is
Bayfield beats the Wisconsin average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 17% of adults have diabetes in Bayfield. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Bayfield.
| Bayfield | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 33% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
2 better12 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Bayfield | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.7% | 19% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 77.8% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 10.5% | 6.7% |
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center
21.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bayfield
18pages on Bayfield
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bayfield; the nearest are
Northland CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Ashland21.1 miGogebic Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ironwood, MI46.8 mi$4,800 in-state tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-DuluthUniversity or college · Public · Duluth, MN53.6 mi$14,610 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Bayfield residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Get outside
103 miles of trails in Bayfield
46.1% of the town is conserved land, across 12 parks and preserves.
3
Nourse Sugarbush State Natural Area3 mi of trails · 502 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Landmarks
6 places in Bayfield on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Bayfield
3 notable people were born in Bayfield.
About Bayfield
City in Wisconsin, United States
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 584 at the 2020 census, making it the city with the smallest population in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main route in the community. Formerly the county seat and home to industries in lumbering and commercial fishing, today it is a tourist and resort destination referred to as the "Gateway to the Apostle Islands".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- ZIP code
- 54814
Questions about Bayfield
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bayfield, WI a good place to live?
Bayfield has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Bayfield, WI known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Van Cleave and Beth Meyers.