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Wisconsin›Barron County
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Turtle LakeWI

A town of 1,023, settled in 1879.

Population
1,023
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$316K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
1,636
A job hub

Is Turtle Lake a good place to live?

Turtle Lake’s best subject grades are an A− for cost of living, walkability, and the outdoors. On cost of living, just 53 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Skinaway Lake Recreation Park, at 25 acres. Turtle Lake has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

StrongestAHazard riskA−Cost of livingA−Outdoors

What makes Turtle Lake stand out

Where Turtle Lake beats most towns.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here1,636
Residents who work499
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
16Very low riskLowerHigher
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.

Typical home value

Turtle Lake$316K
Wisconsin$337K
Cost of livingA−
4.8 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 85% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Small town

1,023 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Almena · 4 miBeaver · 4 miClayton · 4 miTurtle Lake · 5 miClayton · 5 miAlmena · 6 mi
AlmenaBeaverAlmenaBeaverTurtle Lake

How Turtle Lake grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Turtle Lake is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listAOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.6 of 20; 5.1% of households have no car; 5.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →HealthAmery Hospital & Clinic 12.1 miles awayC+Open →Jobs & incomeC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 1% conserved landA−Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life4.6 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, 80° summer afternoons, 51″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.0; 22% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Turtle Lake: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Turtle Lake, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerBarron Electric Coop16.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTurtle Lake WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Turtle Lake’s trash rules yet
SchoolsTurtle Lake School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereVillage of Turtle Lake ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5488954889 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 Turtle Lake.

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+

A job hub: Turtle Lake has 3.3 jobs for every working resident and draws in 1,564 commuters

Most working residents leave Turtle Lake for work: only 14% work in town. Since 2013, Turtle Lake has added 770 jobs, to 1,636 in 2023. Turtle Lake’s median household income is $61,000, against $87,000 in Wisconsin’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns.

14%work in town
Turtle LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Median household income$61,000$87,000$80,000
Working residents who work in town14%8.3%8%
Below the poverty line5.3%6.4%9.6%
Average trip to work22 minutes22 minutes25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Turtle Lake14%
Cumberland6%
Rice Lake6%
Barron5%
Clear Lake4%
20 mi
median commute distance
1,636
jobs based in Turtle Lake
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns
Full pageTurtle Lake’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here1,636 jobs based here · A job hubWhere people work14% work in Turtle LakeCommute times22 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 20 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SchoolsB−

Turtle Lake’s public schools outperform 51% of Wisconsin districts

Its public schools are run by the Turtle Lake School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

51%of WI districts it outscoresB−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Turtle Lake ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5Grades PK–5215B+
Turtle Lake HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–12119C+
Full pageTurtle Lake’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsTurtle Lake School DistrictVs. the neighbors2 bordering townsEvery school4 schools · Turtle Lake ElementaryQuestions“Are Turtle Lake’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Cold waves leads a very low hazard risk in Turtle Lake

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 84% of U.S. communities.

16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
16Very low riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageTurtle Lake’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters2 federal disasters · Paid out in Turtle LakeGet ready9.1 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Turtle Lake has snowy winters and pleasant summers

Turtle Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Turtle Lake’s July high is 80°F, near the Wisconsin town median (82°F) and below the median of U.S. towns (85°F).

51″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter7–25°
Spring31–53°
Summer56–78°
Fall36–55°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageTurtle Lake’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 80°, January lows 3°Rain & snow51″ of snow a winter · 34 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthC+

Residents of Turtle Lake are less healthy than 61% of U.S. towns

Turtle Lake beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 30% of adults get no exercise outside work in Turtle Lake.

39%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
Turtle LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)30%26%25%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)31%32%36%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)15%13%14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)16%14%14%
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better28 too close to call4 worse
What stands outTurtle LakeWI
More adults with COPD8.1%6.5%
More adults with heart disease7.7%6.6%
More adults who have had a stroke3.9%3.4%
Amery Hospital & Clinic
12.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
Full pageTurtle Lake’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby12.1 miles to an ER · Amery Hospital & ClinicHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than WI on 0 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

HousingCost of living grade A−

Homes in Turtle Lake are worth about $316K, by Zillow’s estimate

The typical Turtle Lake home is worth about $316,000, up 4.3% in a year, 6% below the Wisconsin typical home. 59% of Turtle Lake households own their home.

$316KZillow home value
Turtle LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Households that own their home59%74%73%
Median rent$792 a month$1,078 a month$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Turtle Lake$316K
Wisconsin$337K
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in April
Full pageTurtle Lake’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 4.3% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 5.2 years of incomeRents$792 a month · Median rentVs. the neighbors2 bordering towns

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

OutdoorsA−

Conserved land covers 0.8% of Turtle Lake

2.3 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves.

0.8%conserved
Turtle LakeWisconsin townsU.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile0.8 miles per square mile0.40.4
Conserved land0.8%3.8%4.3%
0.8%
conserved · 15 of 1,921 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.8 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Skinaway Lake Recreation Park—25
2. Village Park—10
3. Hartzell Memorial Field0.1 mi6
Full pageTurtle Lake’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map2.3 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk0.1 miles of trail · Hartzell Memorial FieldConserved land0.8% conserved · 15 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Turtle Lake?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Turtle Lake

19pages on Turtle Lake
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 51% of WI districts · 4 schoolsHealthC+Better than WI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$316K typical home · up 4.3% in a yearWork & commuteC+$61K median household income · 1,636 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
OutdoorsA−2 mi of trails · 1% conserved landPlacesAttractions32 nearby · Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 24 miLibraryA−Turtle Lake Public LibraryColleges
The story
HistoryCSettled 1879Famous people1 born in Turtle LakeTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 114 residentsClimate80° summer highs · 51″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 54889Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Turtle Lake; the nearest are

Northwood Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rice Lake20.5 mi$4,926 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-StoutUniversity or college · Public · Menomonie37.4 mi$10,701 in-state tuition

About 2 of every 100 Turtle Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A job hub

Every workday, about 1,564 people come to Turtle Lake for work

Where Turtle Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

6% → Cumberland Cumberland 6% 6% → Rice Lake Rice Lake 6% 5% → Barron Barron 5% 4% → Clear Lake Clear Lake 4% 4% → Amery Amery 4% 3% → Eau Claire Eau Claire 3% Turtle Lake · 14% stay
1,636jobs based in Turtle Lake
14%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Turtle Lake

Village in Wisconsin, United States

Turtle Lake is a village in Barron and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population was 1,037 at the 2020 census. Of these, 959 were in Barron County, and 78 were in Polk County. The village is located between the towns of Almena, in Barron County, and Beaver, in Polk County.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
3.0 sq mi
Elevation
1,171 ft
ZIP code
54889