Town Hall, 2019
Ruby’s story
123 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2019.
- 1903Ruby is settled
RubyWI
A town of 478, settled in 1903.
Population
478
2025 Census estimate · +2.8% since 2020
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
60.5
years
Jobs based here
88
A commuter town
Is Ruby a good place to live?
24% of the land in Ruby is conserved, above both Wisconsin’s towns (3.8%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Chippewa County Forest, at 7,787 acres with 3.7 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Ruby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
478 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
PershingLake HolcombeColburnMarshallEstellaRuby
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Ruby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ruby, and how to reach them.
PowerJump River Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ruby’s trash rules yet
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 Ruby ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2026
ZIP codes54745, 54766, 5443354745 58% · 54766 27% · 54433 15%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 Ruby.
Work & commute
Ruby stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
Ruby’s typical journey to work stands at 27 minutes, above both the Wisconsin town median (22 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Jobs in Ruby grew by 59 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 88. The top destinations are Stanley (17%), Eau Claire (11%) and Chippewa Falls (10%). For half of commuters, work is under 29 miles away.
1%work in town
| Ruby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Ruby1%
Stanley17%
Eau Claire11%
Chippewa Falls10%
Thorp7%
29 mi
median commute distance
88
jobs based in Ruby
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Outdoors
In Ruby, 24.2% of the land is conserved
5.5 miles of trail wind through 1 park or preserve. The trail network density in Ruby is 0.1 miles per square mile.
24.2%conserved
24.2%
conserved · 8,233 of 34,084 acres
5.5 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Chippewa County Forest | 3.7 mi | 7,787 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Top of a low hazard risk in Ruby: inland flooding
In Ruby, the FEMA risk score is 32 of 100. Expected losses in Ruby break down as 48% from inland flooding and 29% from cold waves.
32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
42″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–26°
Spring31–54°
Summer55–78°
Fall35–55°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Ruby than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
The share of adults in Ruby who have diabetes: 15%. Against the Wisconsin average, Ruby comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 15. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 5 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Ruby.
| Ruby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
1 better16 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Ruby | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.1% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.9% | 6.5% |
Marshfield Medical Center - Ladysmith
17.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ruby
16pages on Ruby
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ruby; the nearest are
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireUniversity or college · Public · Eau Claire37.1 mi$9,642 in-state tuitionChippewa Valley Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Eau Claire37.4 mi$4,844 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Ruby residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Ruby for work
Where Ruby’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
88jobs based in Ruby
1%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Ruby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ruby, WI a good place to live?
Ruby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.