Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,443, settled in 1903.
The best of Cornell’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and civic life and an A− for the outdoors; the weakest is a D for incomes. No town in Wisconsin scores higher than Cornell on cost of living. Only 26 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns score higher on civic life. Cornell Pulpwood Stacker is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cornell has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Cornell beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Cornell is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,337 in 1920, a peak of 1,944 in 1950, 1,453 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1911 and 3 maps from 1951 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cornell, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Cornell.
On this, Cornell is against 26% in Wisconsin’s towns and 25% across U.S. towns. Cornell beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 43% of Cornell adults have obesity.
| Cornell | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Cornell | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 8.9% | 6.5% |
| More smokers | 17.7% | 13.6% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.5% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Cornell School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 209 | A |
| Cornell HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 100 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
The typical Cornell home is worth about $229,000, up 3.9% in a year, 32% below the Wisconsin typical home. Cornell’s median rent is $798 a month, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at $1,078 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. 30% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Cornell.
| Cornell | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 30% | 39% | 48% |
| Median rent | $798 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 74% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Cornell since 1997.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Cornell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Cornell’s July high is 80°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Cornell for work: only 14% work in town. The median household income in Cornell is $55,000. The top destinations are Eau Claire (14%), Chippewa Falls (12%) and Cadott (4%).
| Cornell | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 8.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Cornell's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. 4 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Cornell | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.2 per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
0.4 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Brunet Island State Park, at 98 acres.
| Cornell | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brunet Island State Park | 0.4 mi | 98 |
| 2. Mill Yard Park | — | 16 |
| 3. Brunet Falls Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Cornell; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Cornell residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin.
City in Wisconsin, United States
Cornell is a city in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,453 at the 2020 census, down from 1,467 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Chippewa River, upstream from Lake Wissota and Chippewa Falls, where Highway 64 crosses the river and Highway 27.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)