Iron River Wis., in 1908, 1908
Iron River’s story
138 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1908 and 3 maps from 1961 on.
- 1888Iron River is settled
Iron RiverWI
A town of 1,274, settled in 1888.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,274
2025 Census estimate · +2.6% since 2020
Typical home
$299K
+0% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
57.3
years
Jobs based here
397
Balanced
Is Iron River a good place to live?
Iron River’s best subject grade is an A+ for the outdoors; its weakest is a C− for incomes. Iron River’s median age is 57.3 years, above both Wisconsin’s towns (42.1 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). On hazard risk, just 34 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do better. 29% of the land in Iron River is conserved, above both Wisconsin’s towns (3.8%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Bayfield County Forest, at 5,949 acres with 13.9 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. On the outdoors, just 6 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do better. Iron River has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Iron River stand out
Where Iron River beats most towns.
Small town
1,274 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
HughesTrippDeltaKeystonePilsenIron River
How Iron River grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Iron River is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 4% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listA+Open →Jobs & income$58K median household income; 397 jobs based hereC−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthHealthier than 55% of U.S. towns; Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center 22.6 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Iron River: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Iron River, and how to reach them.
PowerBayfield Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterIron River Sanitary District1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers88% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Iron River’s 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 Iron River ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5484754847 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 Iron River.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Iron River faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 96% of U.S. communities.
4risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingStrong wind
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB+
On state tests, Iron River’s schools beat 69% of Wisconsin districts
Its public schools are run by the Maple School District. Its one school is below.
69%of WI districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron River ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 95 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Conserved land covers nearly a quarter of Iron River
40 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The trail density in Iron River is 1.1 miles per square mile.
29%conserved
29%
conserved · 6,542 of 22,560 acres
40 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bayfield County Forest | 13.9 mi | 5,949 |
| 2. Tri-County Recreation Corridor | 3.6 mi | 112 |
| 3. Inch Lake State Natural Area | — | 116 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
Older than Wisconsin overall
People 65 and older are 29% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (22% statewide). 17% of residents are under 18 in Iron River. Iron River has grown 2.6% since 2020, to 1,274 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
57.3median age · WI 40.2
| Iron River | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 32% | 29% |
Iron RiverWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school30%
Some college20%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.3 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Iron River | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.6% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.1% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.9% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.8% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 5.8% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 25% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.1% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.9% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.1% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.4% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.4% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.5% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.6% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Iron River
Iron River has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Iron River’s July high is 79°F.
74″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring28–51°
Summer52–76°
Fall34–53°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 24
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
With 0.8 jobs for every working resident, most of Iron River’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Iron River for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Superior (12%), Duluth (9%) and Ashland (8%). Half commute less than 34 miles.
16%work in town
| Iron River | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 16% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Iron River16%
Superior12%
Duluth9%
Ashland8%
Washburn3%
34 mi
median commute distance
397
jobs based in Iron River
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
In Iron River, property crime runs lower than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Only 2 of the 189 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Iron River. Iron River's reported crime rate is well below Wisconsin's. No violent crimes were reported in 2023.
| Iron River | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 8.8 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.8 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Iron River0
Wisconsin3
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Iron River0
Wisconsin12.6
U.S.19.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2023
0
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B+
A typical Iron River home is worth about $299K
The typical Iron River home is worth about $299,000, about the same as a year ago, 11% below the Wisconsin typical home.
$299KZillow home value
| Iron River | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $713 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 75% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Iron River$299K
Wisconsin$337K
+0%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB
16% of adults in Iron River binge drink, against 20% in Wisconsin’s towns and 16% across U.S. towns
30% of Iron River adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 9 of the 358 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Iron River. 41% of Iron River adults have high blood pressure.
55%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Iron River | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
7 better17 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Iron River | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.9% | 9.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.7% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.1% | 8.6% |
Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center
22.6 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 Iron River
19pages on Iron River
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of WI districts · 1 schoolSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthBBetter than WI on 7 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$299K typical home · up 0% in a yearWork & commuteC−$58K median household income · 397 jobs hereNatural hazardsA+FEMA risk higher than 4% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Iron River; the nearest are
Northland CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Ashland23.4 miUniversity of Wisconsin-SuperiorUniversity or college · Public · Superior36.5 mi$8,812 in-state tuitionLake Superior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Duluth, MN40.5 mi$5,785 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Iron River residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A growing town
Iron River has grown 13% since 2010
1,123 counted in 2010 and 1,240 in 2020; an estimated 1,274 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
About Iron River
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Iron River is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,240 at the 2020 census, up from 1,123 at the 2010 census. The census-designated place of Iron River is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Topside is also located in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 35 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,207 ft
- ZIP code
- 54847
Questions about Iron River
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Iron River, 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 B+.