OcontoFallsWisconsinSignWIS22, 2010
Oconto Falls’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,427 in 1910, 2,957 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and a map from 1956 on.
- 1871Oconto Falls is settled
Oconto FallsWI
A town of 3,012, settled in 1871. 2.1 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Wisconsin town.
Trash & recycling2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Gplehner · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,012
2025 Census estimate · +1.8% since 2020
Typical home
$296K
+8.1% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
43.2
years
Jobs based here
1,418
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#280 of 357 in WI
Is Oconto Falls a good place to live?
Oconto Falls gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $296K, 3.7 years of the Green Bay metro’s $79K median household income. It grades C+ overall, ranked 280th of 357 in Wisconsin. The low prices come with trade-offs. Residents are less healthy than 78% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. On the plus side, it has 6 miles of trail. Oconto Falls’ concentration of trails is 1.9 miles per square mile, against 0.4 in Wisconsin’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. Only 15 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns score higher on civic life.
What makes Oconto Falls stand out
Where Oconto Falls beats most towns.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Oconto Falls8
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WI town3.8
Civic lifeA+
2.1 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Wisconsin town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Natural hazardsA
Lower risk than 89% of U.S. communities
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
How Oconto Falls grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Oconto Falls is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listAOpen →HealthHSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital 0.5 miles awayC−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.7 of 20; 10.1% of households have no car; 0.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Jobs & income$51K median household incomeC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6% conserved landA+Open →History4 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market50 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.2; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oconto Falls: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oconto Falls, and how to reach them.
PowerOconto Falls Water & Light Comm14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOconto Falls Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEvery other weekCurbside recyclingTown 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 hereCity of Oconto Falls ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP code5415454154 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 Oconto Falls.
Oconto Falls trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and trades workers with Green Bay and other neighbors.
#13for trails in WI
5.5%
conserved · 109 of 1,968 acres
5.9 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
On state tests, Oconto Falls’ schools beat 54% of Wisconsin districts
The largest public high school is Oconto Falls High, with 511 students. Public schools: the Oconto Falls Public School District. Below: Two of its 3 schools, each with why it was picked.
54%of WI districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto Falls ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 489 | C+ |
| Oconto Falls HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 511 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Natural hazards: very low risk in Oconto Falls, mostly inland flooding
The FEMA risk score for Oconto Falls comes to 11 of 100, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 23 of 100 and U.S. towns at 44 of 100. One flood insurance claim has been paid locally since 1978. FEMA puts 43% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 32% to cold waves.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 1978
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC−
Oconto Falls’ grade for health is a C−
Against the 6,203 U.S. towns with household incomes like Oconto Falls’s, it is healthier than 50%, so that grade isn’t only a matter of income.
17% of Oconto Falls adults smoke cigarettes. In Oconto Falls, nearly a third of adults get no exercise outside work, and 15% report frequent physical distress.
22%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Oconto Falls | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better22 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Oconto Falls | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.9% | 9.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.5% | 6.5% |
| More smokers | 17.2% | 13.6% |
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital
0.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
4th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
Fewer adults under 35 in Oconto Falls than across Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a third of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 26%. Adults 18 to 34 are just over one in ten residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 45% of residents (38% statewide). For residents in Oconto Falls, the share who are under 18 is 24%.
43.2median age · WI 40.2
| Oconto Falls | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 24% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 32% | 29% |
| Median age | 43.2 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
Oconto FallsWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school32%
Some college23%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
About 85 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.8 points). Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 73% are women (WI 49%).
| Oconto Falls | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.9% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.3% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.6% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.9% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.5% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.6% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.2% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.3% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.5% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,000, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Oconto Falls
Summer afternoons peak near 80° in July, and January nights bottom out around 9°; snowfall runs to about 52 inches a winter.
52″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring32–54°
Summer56–78°
Fall37–57°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Compared with most of Wisconsin and the rest of the country, the median household income in Oconto Falls is lower
Oconto Falls has about as many jobs (1,418) as working residents, but only 290 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 29.3 minutes, against 22.2 across Wisconsin.
Commuting out is the norm in Oconto Falls: nearly a fifth of working residents work locally. Oconto Falls’ average trip to work stands at 29 minutes. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs locally rose by 231, to 1,418. The top destinations are Green Bay (11%), Ashwaubenon (6%) and Oconto (5%).
19%work in town
| Oconto Falls | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $88,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 8.2% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 6.3% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Oconto Falls19%
Green Bay11%
Ashwaubenon6%
Oconto5%
Howard3%
25 mi
median commute distance
1,418
jobs based in Oconto Falls
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 34% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Oconto Falls
Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025. For Oconto Falls, the level of violent crime is 0.7 per 1,000 residents. Oconto Falls's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Oconto Falls | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.9 per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Oconto Falls0.7
Wisconsin2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Oconto Falls5.9
Wisconsin10.3
U.S.15.5
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
18
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B+
Oconto Falls stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with the median rent lower than most
Homes are within reach (about $296K for the typical one, B+ for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 25 miles.
Zillow values the typical Oconto Falls home at about $296,000, up 8.1% in a year, 12% below the Wisconsin typical home. In Oconto Falls, just over three in five households live in a home they own. Homes sold in Oconto Falls spent a median 50 days on the market.
$296KZillow home value
| Oconto Falls | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $687 a month | $1,080 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 61% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Oconto Falls$296K
Wisconsin$337K
Market temperature
50
days on market
97.6%
sale-to-list price
+8.1%
value change, 1 year
5
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oconto Falls
20pages on Oconto Falls
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 54% of WI districts · 3 schoolsSafety0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than WI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$296K typical home · up 8.1% in a yearWork & commuteC+$51K median household income · 1,418 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Oconto Falls; the nearest are
Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Green Bay23.5 mi$4,960 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-Green BayUniversity or college · Public · Green Bay25.4 mi$8,700 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Oconto Falls residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Famous people from Oconto Falls
4 notable people were born in Oconto Falls.
About Oconto Falls
City in Wisconsin, United States
Oconto Falls is a city in Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,957 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Green Bay metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- ZIP code
- 54154
- Area code
- 920
Oconto Falls’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Oconto Falls.
Oconto FallsStilesOconto Falls
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconto Falls | #280 | C+ | B+ | — | B− | C− |
| Oconto Falls | — | — | B+ | — | B− | C |
| Stiles | — | — | B+ | — | C+ | C+ |
Oconto Falls and Stiles have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Oconto Falls, Oconto Falls and Stiles report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Oconto Falls with a neighbor →
Questions about Oconto Falls
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oconto Falls, WI a good place to live?
Oconto Falls grades C+ overall, better than 44% of U.S. towns and #280 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades C− for health and B− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Oconto Falls, 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+.
What is Oconto Falls, WI known for?
4 notable people were born here, including George Burnside and Don Reese.