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Wisconsin›Polk County
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Clear LakeWI

A town of 1,100, settled in 1871.

Population
1,100
2025 Census estimate · +0.5% since 2020
Typical home
$302K
+4% in a year
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
42.5
years
Jobs based here
871
A job hub

Is Clear Lake a good place to live?

The best of Clear Lake’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A− for civic life; the weakest is a C− for schools. Only 48 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score higher on cost of living. Clear Lake has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

StrongestAHazard riskACost of livingA−Civic lifeWeakestC−SchoolsC−Jobs & income

What makes Clear Lake stand out

Where Clear Lake beats most towns.

14Very low riskLowerHigher
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.

Typical home value

Clear Lake$302K
Wisconsin$337K
Cost of livingA
3.9 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 86% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.

Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents

Clear Lake5.8
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WI town3.8
Civic lifeA−
51% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Wisconsin town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Small town

1,100 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Clear Lake · 3 miBlack Brook · 3 miAmery · 6 miForest · 6 miClayton · 7 miCylon · 7 mi
Clear LakeBlack BrookClear LakeBlack BrookClear Lake

How Clear Lake grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Clear Lake is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listAOpen →Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsC−Open →Jobs & income$74K median household incomeC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →HealthAmery Hospital & Clinic 5.6 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 3% conserved landA−Open →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life5.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 81° summer afternoons, 51″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.5; 14% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Clear Lake: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Clear Lake, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerBarron Electric Coop16.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterClear Lake WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Clear Lake’s trash rules yet
SchoolsClear Lake School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereVillage of Clear Lake ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5400554005 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 Clear Lake.

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−

With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Clear Lake draws in 809 commuters

Most working residents leave Clear Lake for work: only 11% work in town. 17% of residents live below the poverty line in Clear Lake, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 6.4% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Jobs based in Clear Lake grew to 871 in 2023, 81 more than in 2013.

11%work in town
Clear LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Below the poverty line17%6.4%9.6%
Average trip to work21 minutes22 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$74,000$87,000$80,000
Working residents who work in town11%8.3%8%

Where working residents work

In Clear Lake11%
Amery12%
Turtle Lake9%
Clayton4%
New Richmond4%
21 mi
median commute distance
871
jobs based in Clear Lake
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 33% of U.S. towns
Full pageClear Lake’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here871 jobs based here · A job hubWhere people work11% work in Clear LakeCommute times21 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 21 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SchoolsC−

Clear Lake’s schools rank behind 80% of Wisconsin districts

Its public schools are run by the Clear Lake School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

20%of WI districts it outscoresC−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Gaylord A Nelson Educational CenterLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6Grades PK–6266C
Clear Lake HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–12189C
Full pageClear Lake’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsClear Lake School DistrictVs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighborEvery school3 schools · Gaylord A Nelson Educational CenterQuestions“Are Clear Lake’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Very low risk in Clear Lake, with cold waves at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 86% of U.S. communities.

14risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
14Very low riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
Full pageClear Lake’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters8 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready9.5 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Clear Lake

Clear Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Clear Lake’s July high is 81°F, near the Wisconsin town median (82°F) and below the median of U.S. towns (85°F).

51″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter8–25°
Spring32–54°
Summer57–79°
Fall37–56°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageClear Lake’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 81°, January lows 4°Rain & snow51″ of snow a winter · 35 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HousingCost of living grade A

Homes in Clear Lake are worth about $302K, by Zillow’s estimate

The typical Clear Lake home is worth about $302,000, up 4% in a year, 10% below the Wisconsin typical home. The median rent in Clear Lake is $878 a month.

$302KZillow home value
Clear LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Median rent$878 a month$1,078 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home70%74%73%

Typical home value

Clear Lake$302K
Wisconsin$337K
+4%
value change, 1 year
Full pageClear Lake’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 4% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 4.1 years of incomeRents$878 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

HealthB−

Health in Clear Lake trails 55% of U.S. towns

Clear Lake beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 28% of Clear Lake adults sleep under 7 hours.

45%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
Clear LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)28%32%36%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)29%26%25%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)13%11%12%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)18%20%16%
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better26 too close to call6 worse
What stands outClear LakeWI
More adults with COPD8%6.5%
More adults who have had a stroke4.1%3.4%
More adults with heart disease7.9%6.6%
Amery Hospital & Clinic
5.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
Full pageClear Lake’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby5.6 miles to an ER · Amery Hospital & ClinicHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than WI on 0 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

OutdoorsA−

Clear Lake has set aside 3.2% of its land for conservation

1.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.

3.2%conserved
Clear LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Conserved land3.2%3.8%4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile0.4 miles per square mile0.40.4
3.2%
conserved · 54 of 1,676 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Clear Lake Village Park—19
Full pageClear Lake’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map1.0 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk19 acres · Clear Lake Village ParkConserved land3.2% conserved · 54 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Clear Lake?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Clear Lake

19pages on Clear Lake
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 80% of WI districts · 3 schoolsHealthB−Better than WI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$302K typical home · up 4% in a yearWork & commuteC−$74K median household income · 871 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
OutdoorsA−1 mi of trails · 3% conserved landPlacesAttractions72 nearby · Lower Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 21 miLibraryA−Clear Lake Public LibraryColleges
The story
HistoryC+Settled 1871Famous people1 born in Clear LakeTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 110 residentsClimate81° summer highs · 51″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 54005Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Clear Lake; the nearest are

Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Center City, MN27.6 miNorthwood Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rice Lake30 mi$4,926 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-StoutUniversity or college · Public · Menomonie30.8 mi$10,701 in-state tuition

About 2 of every 100 Clear Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A job hub

Every workday, about 809 people come to Clear Lake for work

Where Clear Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

12% → Amery Amery 12% 9% → Turtle Lake Turtle Lake 9% 4% → Clayton Clayton 4% 4% → New Richmond New Richmond 4% 2% → Hudson Hudson 2% 2% → Bayport Bayport 2% Clear Lake · 11% stay
871jobs based in Clear Lake
11%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Clear Lake

Village in Wisconsin, United States

Official town website ↗

Clear Lake is a village in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,099 at the 2020 census. The village is adjacent to the Town of Clear Lake along U.S. Highway 63.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
3.0 sq mi
Elevation
1,171 ft
ZIP code
54005

Questions about Clear Lake

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Clear Lake, WI expensive?

Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.