MoleLakeCasinoSignWIS55, 2008
Mole Lake’s story
110 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 2 maps from 1973 on.
- 1916Mole Lake is settled
Mole LakeWI
This town of 533 people was settled in 1916.
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
533
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$128K
Census ACS
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
36.6
years
Jobs based here
300
Balanced
Is Mole Lake a good place to live?
30% of residents live below the poverty line in Mole Lake, above both Wisconsin’s towns (6.4%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Mole Lake. Mole Lake’s trail network density is 2.3 miles per square mile, above both Wisconsin’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). Mole Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
533 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Mole Lake: who provides what
Mole Lake is unincorporated, so Forest County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMole Lake water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers85% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesForest CountyForest County provides services here
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 Nashville ClerkTown of Nashville (Forest County); contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5452054520 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 Mole Lake.
Natural hazards
Mole Lake has a very low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from cold waves
For Mole Lake, the FEMA hazard score is 11 of 100. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 78% come from cold waves and 16% from inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 89% of U.S. communities.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Mole Lake, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
The typical July afternoon high for Mole Lake comes to 78°F.
80″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring27–52°
Summer52–76°
Fall34–53°
Sep 18
typical first frost
Jun 3
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Mole Lake stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with the average trip to work shorter than most
Of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower typical household income than Mole Lake. The share of working residents in Mole Lake who work locally: 34%. Jobs in Mole Lake grew by 33 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 300. Half the trips to work are shorter than 8 miles.
34%work in town
| Mole Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 34% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Mole Lake34%
Nashville36%
Lincoln15%
Crandon8%
Rhinelander7%
8 mi
median commute distance
300
jobs based in Mole Lake
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
A larger share of adults in Mole Lake worry about having enough food than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Among adults in Mole Lake, 76% had a checkup this year. No town among the 358 in Wisconsin we compare has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Mole Lake. CDC measures, 32 in all: Mole Lake beats Wisconsin on 1 and trails on 20. Only 6 of the 358 Wisconsin towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Mole Lake.
| Mole Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 11% | 12% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 10% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
1 better11 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | Mole Lake | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.6% | 8.6% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 22.2% | 9.9% |
Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital
21.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
The median home in Mole Lake sells for about $110K
For households in Mole Lake, the share who own their home is 31%. Of the 341 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a lower typical rent than Mole Lake.
$110Kmedian sale price
| Mole Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 31% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $400 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
0
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,647 acres
9.6 mi
of trails · 2.3 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mole Lake
15pages on Mole Lake
The big questions
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mole Lake; the nearest are
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rhinelander23.4 mi$4,793 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens PointUniversity or college · Public · Stevens Point72.2 mi$9,488 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Mole Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Mole Lake
Census-designated place in Wisconsin, United States
Mole Lake is a census-designated place located in the town of Nashville in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 535 at the 2020 census, up from 435 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 4.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,552 ft
Questions about Mole Lake
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mole Lake, WI a good place to live?
Mole Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.