Farm near the Wisconsin River, 2014
Knowlton’s story
170 years in pictures
The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1970 on.
- 1856Knowlton is settled
KnowltonWI
Trash day: ThursdayPopulation
2,003
2025 Census estimate · +0.7% since 2020
Median home value
$286K
Census ACS
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
56.1
years
Jobs based here
401
A commuter town
Is Knowlton a good place to live?
Knowlton’s best subject grades are a B+ for schools and health; its weakest is a D for walkability. Knowlton’s median age is 56.1 years, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 42.1 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Only 30 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on walkability. The biggest park or preserve is Ashley County Park, at 143 acres. Knowlton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
WeakestDWalkability
What makes Knowlton stand out
Where Knowlton beats most towns.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Knowlton for work
Where Knowlton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
401jobs based in Knowlton
3%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Knowlton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Knowlton is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.8 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →SchoolsBeat 74% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduationB+Open →HealthMarshfield Medical Center - Weston 11.6 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$93K median household incomeB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $286K, 3.7 years of the Wausau metro’s $78K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1% conserved landCOpen →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
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 Knowlton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Knowlton, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMaizefield Mhc (Manufactured Home Community) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers33% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpThursdayTrash dayTown site
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 Knowlton ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54455, 5444354455 99% · 54443 1%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 Knowlton.
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Knowlton sits below both the Wisconsin town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (22%) on this measure. Adults 18 to 34 are 6% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 30% of residents (19% statewide). 33% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
56.1median age · WI 40.2
| Knowlton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 30% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 32% | 29% |
KnowltonWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school28%
Some college19%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.6 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Knowlton | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.1% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.1% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 1.9% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.9% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.2% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 23.1% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.1% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.4% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.3% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.5% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.5% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.8% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,000, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Knowlton’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Knowlton for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Knowlton grew to 401 in 2023, 179 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Wausau (15%), Marshfield (13%) and Stevens Point (5%).
3%work in town
| Knowlton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 12% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Knowlton3%
Wausau15%
Marshfield13%
Stevens Point5%
Weston5%
19 mi
median commute distance
401
jobs based in Knowlton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 6% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Knowlton is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Knowlton beats the Wisconsin average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 28% of adults feel lonely in Knowlton.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Knowlton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
7 better25 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Knowlton | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.5% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 12.1% |
Marshfield Medical Center - Weston
11.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Knowlton has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Knowlton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Knowlton is 81°F.
54″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–27°
Spring32–54°
Summer56–78°
Fall36–56°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
High risk in Knowlton, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.
61risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0.6%conserved
0.6%
conserved · 140 of 21,777 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ashley County Park | — | 143 |
| 2. Mead State Wildlife Area | — | 140 |
| 3. Mead Conifer Bogs State Natural Area | — | 140 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade B
A home in Knowlton sells for about $450K at the median
91% of Knowlton households own their home.
$450Kmedian sale price
| Knowlton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 91% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,000 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 4 attractions →Granite Peak Ski Area and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Knowlton. Close and well known come first.
13 mi Ski areaGranite Peak Ski Area52 runs · 660 ft vertical
16 mi MuseumLeigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
16 mi TheatreGrand Theater25 mi GardenLyon Park
16 mi MuseumLeigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum16 mi TheatreGrand Theater25 mi GardenLyon ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum: User:Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Grand Theater: Billertl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Knowlton
19pages on Knowlton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Knowlton
About 3 of every 100 Knowlton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Knowlton
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Knowlton is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,984 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Dancy and Knowlton are located in the town. The unincorporated communities of Ashley and Rocky Corners are also located partially in the town. The town was created in 1859.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 34 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,125 ft
Knowlton’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Knowlton.
MosineeGuentherBergenKnowlton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowlton | — | — | B | — | B+ | B+ |
| Mosinee | #37 | A | A− | — | B+ | B+ |
| Guenther | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bergen | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Knowlton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Knowlton and Mosinee report no FBI crime data of their own. Guenther and Bergen aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Knowlton with a neighbor →
Questions about Knowlton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Knowlton, WI expensive?
The typical home is worth about $286,000, 15% below the Wisconsin typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.