Klumb & Pedder Boat House, 1912
Minocqua’s story
138 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1912 and 2 maps from 1966 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1888Minocqua is settled
MinocquaWI
A town of 5,062, settled in 1888.
Population
5,062
2025 Census estimate · +0.2% since 2020
Typical home
$423K
+6.7% in a year
Household income
$69K
median
Median age
57.5
years
Jobs based here
2,959
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#301 of 357 in WI
Is Minocqua a good place to live?
Minocqua's standout: natural-hazard risk is low. Overall it grades C+, 301st among Wisconsin's 357 graded towns. It has 62 miles of trail. 36% of residents are 65 or older in Minocqua, against 20% in Wisconsin’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area, 6,216 acres with 8.2 miles of trail. Only 5 of the 362 Wisconsin towns we compare have a higher median age than Minocqua.
What makes Minocqua stand out
Where Minocqua beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA+
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Minocqua10
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WI town3.8
Civic lifeA−
2.6 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Wisconsin town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
A growing town
Minocqua has grown 16% since 2010
4,385 counted in 2010 and 5,062 in 2020; an estimated 5,062 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 15.4% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Minocqua grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Minocqua is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 6% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 6.2% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →SafetyB−Open →Jobs & income$69K median household incomeB−Open →HealthHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns; Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua 9.6 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors22% conserved landA−Open →History4 places on the National RegisterB−Open →Civic life10 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
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 Minocqua: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Minocqua, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLakeland Sanitary Dist 1 water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers72% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTrig's Recycling CenterIn townOpenStreetMap
SchoolsLakeland Union High School DistrictMinocqua Joint No. 1 School District2 districts serve Minocqua; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 Minocqua ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54548, 54531, 54538, 5456454548 93% · 54531 2% · 54538 2% · 54564 2%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 Minocqua.
Minocqua is a second-home town, has a shorter frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns and is safe by national standards but not by Wisconsin’s.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Minocqua faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 94% of U.S. communities.
6risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB−
Minocqua’s schools rank behind 53% of Wisconsin districts
Its public schools are run by the Lakeland UHS School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Lakeland High, with 696 students.
47%of WI districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minocqua ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 506 | B+ |
| Lakeland HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 696 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Older than Wisconsin overall
42.8% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 6.2% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
People 65 and older are 36% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 10% of residents (22% statewide). 14% of residents are under 18 in Minocqua. 31% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
57.5median age · WI 40.2
| Minocqua | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 14% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 31% | 32% | 29% |
MinocquaWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
20%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school28%
Some college26%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.4 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Minocqua | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.9% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.6% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2.8% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.2% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.5% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.4% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.6% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.8% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.8% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.9% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.2% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.7% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers 22.2% of Minocqua
#171for trails in WI
22.2%
conserved · 23,780 of 106,957 acres
62 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area | 8.2 mi | 6,216 |
| 2. Squirrel River Pines State Natural Area | 3 mi | 1,274 |
| 3. Tomahawk River Pines State Natural Area | 0.4 mi | 539 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C+
Minocqua’s typical home value is about $423K
At 6.1 years of the county’s $69K median household income, the typical home (about $423K) costs more against local pay than in 87% of Wisconsin towns; that ratio is one input to its C+ for cost of living. 55.8% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 43.7% across Wisconsin.
The typical Minocqua home is worth about $423,000, up 6.7% in a year, 26% above the Wisconsin typical home. Minocqua’s median rent is $955 a month.
$423KZillow home value
| Minocqua | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $955 a month | $1,080 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Minocqua$423K
Wisconsin$337K
+6.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Compared with most of Wisconsin and the rest of the country, a typical July afternoon in Minocqua is cooler
The Minocqua weather station, 9 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 127 days, shorter than in 96% of U.S. towns. The Minocqua weather station, 9 miles away, records that 99 inches of snow fall in a normal winter, more than in 97% of U.S. towns.
The July high in Minocqua is 77°F. Minocqua has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
99″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring27–51°
Summer53–75°
Fall34–53°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 23
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Minocqua has 1.5 jobs for every working resident, and 2,335 people commute in
About one in 3 of Minocqua’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Minocqua grew to 2,959 in 2023, 625 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Lac du Flambeau (6%), Arbor Vitae (6%) and Rhinelander (4%).
31%work in town
| Minocqua | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 31% | 8.2% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 12% | 11% |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $88,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Minocqua31%
Lac du Flambeau6%
Arbor Vitae6%
Rhinelander4%
Woodruff4%
19 mi
median commute distance
2,959
jobs based in Minocqua
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 35% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB−
More crime per resident in Minocqua than in 52% of U.S. towns
At 19.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 70% of Wisconsin’s graded towns.
48%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Minocqua0.2
Wisconsin2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Minocqua16.8
Wisconsin10.3
U.S.15.5
48th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
30th
percentile among WI towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
85
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthB−
A larger share of adults in Minocqua had a checkup this year than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
82% of Minocqua adults had a checkup this year. Minocqua beats the Wisconsin average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 6.1% of Minocqua adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance.
51%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Minocqua | 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) | 82% | 78% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
9 better14 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Minocqua | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.1% | 8% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.6% | 9.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.3% | 8.6% |
Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua
9.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
28th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Minocqua
18pages on Minocqua
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 53% of WI districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB−0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than WI on 9 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$423K typical home · up 6.7% in a yearWork & commuteB−$69K median household income · 2,959 jobs hereNatural hazardsA+FEMA risk higher than 6% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Minocqua; the nearest are
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rhinelander26.8 mi$4,793 in-state tuitionLac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Hayward71.6 mi$6,030 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Minocqua residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Minocqua
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Minocqua (Ojibwe: Minwaakwaa) is a town in northwestern Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,062 at 2025 estimates, representing no change from the 2020 census. The Minocqua census-designated place and the unincorporated community of Rantz are both located in the town. Minocqua is commonly referred to as "The Island City."
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 168 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,598 ft
Minocqua’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Minocqua.
WoodruffLac du FlambeauHazelhurstLittle RiceLynneEmeryFifieldMinocqua
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minocqua | #301 | C+ | C+ | B− | B− | B− |
| Woodruff | — | — | B+ | — | B | B− |
| Lac du Flambeau | #356 | D− | B− | — | D | C− |
| Hazelhurst | — | — | B | — | B− | B− |
| Little Rice | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lynne | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Emery | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fifield | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Woodruff and Hazelhurst have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Woodruff, Lac du Flambeau and Hazelhurst report no FBI crime data of their own. Little Rice, Lynne, Emery and Fifield aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Minocqua with a neighbor →
Questions about Minocqua
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Minocqua, WI a good place to live?
Minocqua grades C+ overall, better than 38% of U.S. towns and #301 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B− for health, B− for safety and B− for schools.
Is Minocqua, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.