Franklin Lake Campground · National Register of Historic Places
Hiles’s story
123 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 maps from 1965 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1903Hiles is settled
HilesWI
A town of 374, settled in 1903.
7 bordering townsMap →
Franklin Lake Campground · Public domain
Population
374
2025 Census estimate · +5.1% since 2020
Median home value
$227K
Census ACS
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
64.9
years
Jobs based here
12
A commuter town
Is Hiles a good place to live?
No town among the 363 in Wisconsin we compare has a higher median age than Hiles. 82% of the land in Hiles is conserved, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 3.8% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. The biggest park or preserve is Headwaters Wilderness, at 16,371 acres. Hiles has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
374 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Three LakesArgonnePhelpsPiehlAlvinCrandonWashingtonHiles
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Hiles: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hiles, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet5 providers63% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Hiles’ trash rules yet
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 Hiles ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54511, 54521, 5456254511 77% · 54521 12% · 54562 12%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 Hiles.
Outdoors
Hiles has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
98 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The trail density in Hiles is 0.7 miles per square mile.
82.2%conserved
82.2%
conserved · 73,994 of 90,031 acres
98 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Headwaters Wilderness - Kimball Creek Unit | 7.9 mi | 6,657 |
| 2. Haymeadow Flowage State Natural Area | 4.8 mi | 2,082 |
| 3. Headwaters Wilderness - Headwaters Of The Pine Unit | 2.9 mi | 6,224 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
50% of residents are 65 or older
People 65 and older are 50% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 7% of residents (22% statewide). 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
64.9median age · WI 40.2
| Hiles | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 15% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 32% | 29% |
HilesWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
33%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school26%
Some college31%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
43% women, 57% men
About 135 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.1 points). Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 65 to 74, 64% are men (WI 49%). Median age: women 63.9, men 66.3.
| Hiles | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 1.6% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 2% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.8% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 33% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.8% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.3% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.5% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 31% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.3% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.3% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.6% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 400, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazards
Hiles faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 82% of U.S. communities.
18risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
The average trip to work in Hiles is longer than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
Hiles’ average trip to work is 43 minutes. Most working residents leave Hiles for work: only 1% work in town. Hiles’ median household income is $61,000.
1%work in town
| Hiles | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 43 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.6% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 8% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Hiles1%
Lincoln11%
Rhinelander9%
Crandon7%
Wabeno3%
43 mi
median commute distance
12
jobs based in Hiles
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
A typical July afternoon in Hiles is cooler than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 10 have a lower July high than Hiles. Hiles has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
75″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–25°
Spring26–51°
Summer51–76°
Fall33–53°
Sep 24
typical first frost
May 25
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Hiles is
Hiles beats the Wisconsin average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 41% of adults have high blood pressure in Hiles. Only 9 of the 358 Wisconsin towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Hiles.
| Hiles | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 78% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
7 better16 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Hiles | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.6% | 9.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.8% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.9% | 8.6% |
Aspirus Eagle River Hospital
15.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Hiles
16pages on Hiles
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Hiles; the nearest are
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rhinelander24.9 mi$4,793 in-state tuitionNorthern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marquette, MI92 mi$14,277 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Hiles residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Get outside
98 miles of trails in Hiles
82.2% of the town is conserved land, across 5 parks and preserves.
1
Headwaters Wilderness - Kimball Creek Unit7.9 mi of trails · 6,657 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Questions about Hiles
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Hiles, WI a good place to live?
Hiles has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.