Rib Lake Historic Marker, 2003
Rib Lake’s story
143 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2003.
- 1883Rib Lake is settled
Rib LakeWI
A town of 912, settled in 1883.
Population
912
2025 Census estimate · −1.4% since 2020
Typical home
$218K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
42.0
years
Jobs based here
335
Balanced
Is Rib Lake a good place to live?
Rib Lake’s January low is 3°F, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 11°F and U.S. towns at 22°F. Rib Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
912 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rib Lake: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rib Lake, and how to reach them.
PowerPrice Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterRib Lake Waterworks2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpRib Lake Recycling CenterSat 8 am–12 pmOpenStreetMap
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 hereVillage of Rib Lake ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5447054470 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 Rib Lake.
Housing
A typical Rib Lake home is worth about $218K
The typical Rib Lake home is worth about $218,000, up 6.9% in a year, 35% below the Wisconsin typical home. Rib Lake’s median rent is $732 a month, against $1,078 a month in Wisconsin’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. 65% of Rib Lake households own their home.
$218KZillow home value
| Rib Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $732 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rib Lake$218K
Wisconsin$337K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools Rib Lake’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Rib Lake School District. Its three schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rib Lake ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 239 | A |
| Rib Lake HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 149 | C− |
| Rib Lake MiddleTop results in townGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 93 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
Rib Lake faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 70% of U.S. communities.
30risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Rib Lake, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Rib Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Rib Lake’s July high is 78°F.
57″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring29–52°
Summer54–76°
Fall34–54°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 11
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
About one in nine working residents works right in Rib Lake
Most working residents leave Rib Lake for work: only 11% work in town. 16% of residents live below the poverty line in Rib Lake. Jobs based in Rib Lake grew to 335 in 2023, 62 more than in 2013.
11%work in town
| Rib Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 12% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Rib Lake11%
Medford29%
Wausau3%
Browning3%
Rib Lake3%
16 mi
median commute distance
335
jobs based in Rib Lake
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Rib Lake is
Rib Lake beats the Wisconsin average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
| Rib Lake | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 26% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 33% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
1 better22 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Rib Lake | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 77.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16% | 9.9% |
Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics
14.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,403 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ice Age Park | — | 18 |
| 2. Lake View Park | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rib Lake
18pages on Rib Lake
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Rib Lake; the nearest are
Northcentral Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Wausau35.5 mi$4,889 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens PointUniversity or college · Public · Stevens Point62.7 mi$9,488 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Rib Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Rib Lake
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Rib Lake is a village in Taylor County, Wisconsin, United States located at the junction of Wisconsin Highway 102 and Taylor County Highway D. The population was 935 at the 2020 census. The village is completely surrounded by the Town of Rib Lake.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,581 ft
- ZIP code
- 54470
Questions about Rib Lake
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rib Lake, WI a good place to live?
Rib Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.