Big Sand Lake Club · National Register of Historic Places
Phelps’s story
114 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1960.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1912Phelps is settled
PhelpsWI
A town of 1,269, settled in 1912. 3.2 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Wisconsin town.
Trash & recycling7 bordering townsMap →
Big Sand Lake Club · Photo: Sa magnuson33 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,269
2025 Census estimate · +2.3% since 2020
Typical home
$344K
+11.8% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
61.3
years
Jobs based here
206
A commuter town
Is Phelps a good place to live?
The best of Phelps’ subject grades is an A+ for civic life; the weakest is a D for schools. 36% of residents are 65 or older in Phelps, against 20% in Wisconsin’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 1 have a lower share of children under 18 than Phelps. 55% of the land in Phelps is conserved, against 3.8% in Wisconsin’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Only 6 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns score higher on civic life. The biggest park or preserve is Blackjack Springs Wilderness, at 1,499 acres. Phelps has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Phelps stand out
Where Phelps beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Phelps12.2
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WI town3.8
Civic lifeA+
3.2 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Wisconsin town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Natural hazardsB+
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Phelps School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Phelps Elementary | PK–8 | 61 |
| Phelps High | 9–12 | 27 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,269 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
ConoverWatersmeet TownshipHilesWashingtonAlvinStambaugh TownshipLand O'LakesPhelps
How Phelps grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Phelps is from typical.
SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →Jobs & income$71K median household incomeCOpen →HealthAspirus Eagle River Hospital 12.1 miles awayB−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 3.3% of households have no car; 2.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsB+Open →History2 places on the National RegisterB−Open →Civic life8.9 library visits per resident; 12.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 77° summer afternoons, 94″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Phelps: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Phelps, and how to reach them.
PowerWe Energies20.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPhelps Sanitary DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers60% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpPhelps Recycling CenterDrop-offTown 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 Phelps ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54554, 54540, 54521, 5451954554 84% · 54540 8% · 54521 5% · 54519 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 Phelps.
OutdoorsB+
Phelps has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
20 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
54.9%conserved
54.9%
conserved · 37,830 of 68,908 acres
20 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blackjack Springs Wilderness | — | 1,499 |
| 2. Waverly Park | — | 24 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsD
Public schools in Phelps fall behind 95% of Wisconsin districts
Its public schools are run by the Phelps School District. Its two schools are below.
5%of WI districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phelps ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 61 | B |
| Phelps HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 27 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Phelps stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with the median age higher than most
The median age in Phelps is 61.3 years. Phelps has grown 2.3% since 2020, to 1,269 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. People 65 and older are 36% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 9% of residents (22% statewide).
61.3median age · WI 40.2
| Phelps | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.3 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 32% | 29% |
PhelpsWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
28%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school33%
Some college29%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s15%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.2 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Phelps | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.3% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 3.4% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 4.6% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.8% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 28.1% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 18.3% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 17.4% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.7% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33.2% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.5% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.1% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.2% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.3% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Phelps has 0.4 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Phelps for work: only 10% work in town. Phelps’ average trip to work is 20 minutes. Since 2013, Phelps has lost 33 jobs, to 206 in 2023.
10%work in town
| Phelps | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $71,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Phelps10%
Eagle River17%
Lincoln6%
Land O'Lakes5%
Rhinelander5%
22 mi
median commute distance
206
jobs based in Phelps
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 51% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Cold waves leads a low hazard risk in Phelps
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 68% of U.S. communities.
32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
A typical July afternoon in Phelps is cooler than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Among 363 Wisconsin towns, just 2 have a lower July high than Phelps. Phelps has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
94″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–24°
Spring25–51°
Summer51–75°
Fall33–52°
Sep 24
typical first frost
May 25
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB−
Phelps is less healthy than 52% of U.S. towns
Phelps beats the Wisconsin average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 43% of Phelps adults have high blood pressure. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Phelps.
48%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Phelps | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 33% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 32% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
11 better12 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Phelps | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.8% | 9.7% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.8% | 8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.1% | 8.6% |
Aspirus Eagle River Hospital
12.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B+
Homes in Phelps are worth about $344K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Phelps home is worth about $344,000, up 11.8% in a year, close to the Wisconsin typical home. 91% of households own their home in Phelps.
$344KZillow home value
| Phelps | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 91% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $805 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Phelps$344K
Wisconsin$337K
+11.8%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Phelps
17pages on Phelps
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Phelps; the nearest are
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rhinelander34.8 mi$4,793 in-state tuitionMichigan Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Houghton, MI78 mi$19,123 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Phelps residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
90% of working residents leave Phelps for work
Where Phelps’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
206jobs based in Phelps
10%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Phelps
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Phelps is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,238 in 2020. The unincorporated community of Phelps is located in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 109 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,736 ft
Questions about Phelps
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Phelps, WI a good place to live?
3.2 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Wisconsin town.
Is Phelps, 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+.