Woodruff Wisc c 1925, c. 1920
Woodruff’s story
137 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1920 and 2 maps from 1966 on.
- 1889Woodruff is settled
WoodruffWI
A town of 2,082, settled in 1889.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,082
2025 Census estimate · +2% since 2020
Typical home
$331K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
60.1
years
Jobs based here
624
Balanced
Is Woodruff a good place to live?
The best of Woodruff’s subject grades are an A− for walkability and an A for the outdoors. Woodruff’s median age is 60.1 years, above both the Wisconsin town median (42.1 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Only 43 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score higher on hazard risk. 58% of the land in Woodruff is conserved, above both the Wisconsin town median (3.8%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Northern Highland American Legion State Forest, at 13,554 acres with 33.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Only 45 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score higher on the outdoors. Woodruff has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Woodruff stand out
Where Woodruff beats most towns.
Get outside
37 miles of trails in Woodruff
57.8% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
2
Kemp Natural Resources Station377 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Woodruff grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Woodruff is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 5% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listA+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 8.3% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SchoolsBeat 57% of Wisconsin districts on tests and graduationBOpen →HealthHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns; Howard Young Medical Center 5 miles awayB−Open →Jobs & income$82K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History3 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life4.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Woodruff: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Woodruff, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Public Service17.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLakeland Sanitary Dist 1 water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offTrig's Recycling Center, 2 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsLakeland Union High School DistrictWoodruff Joint No. 1 School District2 districts serve Woodruff; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 Woodruff ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP codes54568, 54539, 54558, 5454854568 84% · 54539 10% · 54558 3% · 54548 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 Woodruff.
OutdoorsA
Woodruff has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
37 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. Woodruff’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile.
57.8%conserved
57.8%
conserved · 13,057 of 22,580 acres
37 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Northern Highland American Legion State Forest | 33.3 mi | 13,554 |
| 2. Kemp Natural Resources Station | — | 377 |
| 3. Alvin R Gongaware Memorial Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A+
Cold waves leads a very low hazard risk in Woodruff
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 95% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Woodruff since 2017.
5risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
1
paid flood claims since 2017
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than Wisconsin overall
People 65 and older are 36% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 11% of residents (22% statewide). 13% of Woodruff residents are under 18. 38% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
60.1median age · WI 40.2
| Woodruff | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 13% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 32% | 29% |
WoodruffWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
24%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school24%
Some college32%
Associate’s5%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate18%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 60% are men (WI 43%).
| Woodruff | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.1% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.1% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.1% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.3% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.7% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 24.2% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 21.7% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.8% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.5% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 31.7% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.3% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.4% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 18.3% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Woodruff stands out in Wisconsin and nationally: a typical July afternoon there is cooler
The July high in Woodruff is 77°F. Woodruff has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
99″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring27–51°
Summer52–75°
Fall34–53°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 23
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
With 0.8 jobs for every working resident, most of Woodruff’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Woodruff for work: only 7% work in town. Jobs based in Woodruff fell to 624 in 2023, 429 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Minocqua (23%), Arbor Vitae (11%) and Lac du Flambeau (8%).
7%work in town
| Woodruff | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Woodruff7%
Minocqua23%
Arbor Vitae11%
Lac du Flambeau8%
Rhinelander4%
13 mi
median commute distance
624
jobs based in Woodruff
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 78% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Woodruff
Woodruff's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 6 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Woodruff | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.9 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.2 per 1,000 residents | 6.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Woodruff2.9
Wisconsin2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Woodruff7.2
Wisconsin10.3
U.S.15.5
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
15
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthB−
A larger share of adults had a checkup this year in Woodruff than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
82% of adults had a checkup this year in Woodruff. Woodruff beats the Wisconsin average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 42% of adults have high blood pressure in Woodruff.
54%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Woodruff | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 33% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 17% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 11% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
10 better13 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Woodruff | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.1% | 9.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.7% | 8.6% |
Howard Young Medical Center
5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B+
The typical home in Woodruff is valued at about $331K
The typical Woodruff home is worth about $331,000, up 6.9% in a year, close to the Wisconsin typical home.
$331KZillow home value
| Woodruff | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $838 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 80% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Woodruff$331K
Wisconsin$337K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Woodruff
19pages on Woodruff
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 57% of WI districtsSafety2.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than WI on 10 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$331K typical home · up 6.9% in a yearWork & commuteB−$82K median household income · 624 jobs hereNatural hazardsA+FEMA risk higher than 5% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Woodruff; the nearest are
Nicolet Area Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rhinelander19.5 mi$4,793 in-state tuitionLac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Hayward84.5 mi$6,030 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Woodruff residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Famous people from Woodruff
3 notable people were born in Woodruff.
About Woodruff
Town in Wisconsin, United States
Woodruff (Ojibwe: Daashkiboojiganing) is a town in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,044 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of Woodruff is located in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,594 ft
Woodruff’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Woodruff.
MinocquaArbor VitaeNewboldLake TomahawkLac du FlambeauWoodruff
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodruff | — | — | B+ | — | B | B− |
| Minocqua | #301 | C+ | C+ | B− | B− | B− |
| Arbor Vitae | #179 | B+ | B | — | B | B |
| Newbold | #297 | C+ | B− | — | C+ | B− |
| Lake Tomahawk | — | — | A− | — | B− | B− |
| Lac du Flambeau | #356 | D− | B− | — | D | C− |
Woodruff and Lake Tomahawk have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Woodruff, Arbor Vitae, Newbold, Lake Tomahawk and Lac du Flambeau report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Woodruff with a neighbor →
Questions about Woodruff
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Woodruff, WI expensive?
Not for the area. That is 4.8 years of the area's median household income ($69,371 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 B+.
What is Woodruff, WI known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Gerald J. Boileau and Leah Berard.