Marathon City Bridge, Spanning Big Rib River, on state Trunk Highway 107
Population
976
2025 Census estimate · −2.2% since 2020
Typical home
$315K
+9.7% in a year
Household income
$106K
median
Median age
52.4
years
Jobs based here
62
A commuter town
Is Marathon a good place to live?
Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Marathon. The biggest park or preserve is Marathon County Forest-Nine Mile Unit, at 640 acres. Marathon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
976 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Marathon CityRib MountainStettinMosineeCasselMarathon
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Marathon: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Marathon, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMarathon City Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTrash 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 Marathon ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54448, 54401, 5445554448 79% · 54401 18% · 54455 3%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 Marathon.
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 8% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 44% of residents (38% statewide). Marathon’s median age is 52.4 years, above both Wisconsin’s towns (42.1 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). 24% of residents are 65 or older in Marathon.
52.4median age · WI 40.2
| Marathon | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.4 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 24% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 32% | 29% |
MarathonWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
24%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school38%
Some college14%
Associate’s18%
Bachelor’s15%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 18 to 24, 77% are women (WI 49%).
| Marathon | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.7% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 1.5% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.4% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.5% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 23.8% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.2% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 37.5% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.5% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 18% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 14.5% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.5% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commute
Fewer of Marathon’s working residents work locally than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
0.4% of Marathon working residents work locally, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 8.3% and U.S. towns at 8%. Since 2013, Marathon has lost 94 jobs, to 62 in 2023. The median household income in Marathon is $106,000.
0%work in town
| Marathon | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $106,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.4% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 10% | 12% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Marathon0%
Wausau24%
Marathon City15%
Weston5%
Schofield4%
10 mi
median commute distance
62
jobs based in Marathon
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Marathon, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Marathon has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Marathon’s July high is 80°F.
54″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring31–54°
Summer55–78°
Fall36–55°
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 hazards
Low risk in Marathon, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Marathon is
Marathon beats the Wisconsin average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 28% of Marathon adults feel lonely.
| Marathon | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
2 better29 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Marathon | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.6% | 5.5% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.7% | 6.7% |
| More adults with high cholesterol | 37.7% | 34.4% |
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
7.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Marathon are worth about $315K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Marathon home is worth about $315,000, up 9.7% in a year, 7% below the Wisconsin typical home.
$315KZillow home value
| Marathon | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 96% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,375 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Marathon$315K
Wisconsin$337K
+9.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
3.2%conserved
3.2%
conserved · 674 of 20,792 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Marathon County Forest-Nine Mile Unit | — | 640 |
| 2. Sunny Vale County Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 4 attractions →Granite Peak Ski Area and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Marathon. Close and well known come first.
5 mi Ski areaGranite Peak Ski Area52 runs · 660 ft vertical
9 mi MuseumLeigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
9 mi TheatreGrand Theater35 mi GardenLyon Park
9 mi MuseumLeigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum9 mi TheatreGrand Theater35 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 Marathon
18pages on Marathon
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Marathon
About 1 of every 100 Marathon residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Marathon for work
Where Marathon’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
62jobs based in Marathon
0%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Marathon
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Marathon is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 995 at the 2020 census. The village of Marathon City was incorporated from a part of the town's original area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 33 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,299 ft
Questions about Marathon
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Marathon, WI a good place to live?
Marathon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.