Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Osceola grades B− overall, ranked 241st of 357 in Wisconsin, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools rank ahead of 84% of Wisconsin towns and 6% of its land is conserved. On the other side, the median household income is $53K, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Osceola’s average trip to work is 35 minutes, above both the Wisconsin town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Osceola has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them First Baptist Church and Geiger Building-Old Polk County Courthouse. Osceola's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 85% of U.S. towns.
Where Osceola beats most towns.
Where Osceola’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Osceola is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 311 in 1880, 2,765 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 2 maps from 1974 on.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Osceola, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Osceola.
Osceola draws workers from Osceola and beyond, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has cooler summers than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin.
2,633 jobs are based in Osceola, 1.8 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. 23% of working residents cross a state line to work, Minneapolis among the top destinations.
Most working residents leave Osceola for work: only 19% work in town. Since 2013, Osceola has added 603 jobs, to 2,633 in 2023. The top destinations are St.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 8.2% | 8% |
| Median household income | $53,000 | $88,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 11% | 12% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Osceola School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Osceola High, with 498 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 398 | A |
| Osceola HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 498 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
2.8 miles of trail in 10 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Schillberg Park, at 97 acres. Osceola’s trail density is 0.7 miles per square mile.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6.5% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Village Park | 1.3 mi | 43 |
| 2. Schillberg Park | 0.4 mi | 97 |
| 3. Osceola Marsh | — | 19 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 82% of U.S. communities. Since 2016, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Osceola.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Adults 35 to 64 are 25% of residents (38% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 29% of residents (22% statewide). The median age in Osceola is 33.5 years. Osceola has grown 4.4% since 2020, to 2,890 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 25% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 32% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 20% | 18% |
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.4 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Osceola | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 17.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 24.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.3% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 4% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.5% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.3% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.6% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.9% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.5% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.5% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.4% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 3.1% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,900, single groups can be off by several points
Against the 6,897 U.S. towns with household incomes like Osceola’s, it is healthier than 96%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Osceola tracks Wisconsin closely on all 32 CDC measures. 28% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Osceola.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
July afternoons average 82°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 78% of Wisconsin places with climate records; January nights average 4.8°.
Osceola has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. About 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 5°F | 11°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Osceola's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025.
| Osceola | 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) | 9.6 per 1,000 residents | 6.3 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
The typical Osceola home is worth about $361,000, up 2.9% in a year, 7% above the Wisconsin typical home. 57% of Osceola households own their home.
| Osceola | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 57% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $946 a month | $1,080 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Osceola. Close and well known come first.
Big draw36 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
35 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
37 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
33 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
34 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz Field
38 mi LandmarkFort SnellingU.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0 · Fort Snelling: en:User:The Statue With The Dictionary, CC BY-SA 3.0
1 within 15 miles of the center of Osceola
About 1 of every 100 Osceola residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
5 places in Osceola on the National Register of Historic Places.
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Osceola ( AH-see-OH-lə) is a village in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,765 at the 2020 census. Located mostly within the Town of Osceola, the village sits on the border with Minnesota, separated by the St. Croix River. It is along Wisconsin Highway 35.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
3 towns share a border with Osceola.
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola · Osceola | #241 | B− | C+ | — | A− | B+ |
| Farmington | — | — | C | — | A− | B+ |
Farmington has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Osceola and Farmington report no FBI crime data of their own. Osceola and Osceola are one community, graded once. Compare Osceola with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Osceola grades B− overall, better than 53% of U.S. towns and #241 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a C−.
That is 4.7 years of the area's median household income ($77,219 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
2 notable people were born here, including Gustav Stickley and Charlie Danielson.
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