Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 194, settled in 1913.
Fern’s average trip to work is 46 minutes, above both Wisconsin’s towns (22 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Fern. 57% of the land in Fern is conserved, above both Wisconsin’s towns (3.8%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest place to walk is Florence County Forest, 3,871 acres with 8.2 miles of trail. Fern has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 115 in 1920, a low of 61 in 1970, 181 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1921 and 2 maps from 1962 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fern, 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 Fern.
25 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Fern’s trail density is 0.7 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Florence County Forest | 8.2 mi | 3,871 |
| 2. Pine-Popple Wild Rivers | 0.1 mi | 636 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1.4% of residents live below the poverty line in Fern. Jobs based in Fern fell to 34 in 2023, 30 fewer than in 2013. Most working residents leave Fern for work: only 0% work in town.
| Fern | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $84,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Fern has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Fern is 79°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
41% of Fern adults have high blood pressure. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 10 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Fern. 22% of Fern adults have been diagnosed with depression.
| Fern | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| What stands out | Fern | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.5% | 9.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.8% | 8.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Fern; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Fern residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Where Fern’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Fern is a town in Florence County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 181 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Fern has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.