Balsam Lake Wisconsin Downtown WIS46 · Royalbroil / CC BY-SA 4.0Balsam Lake Wisconsin Sign WIS46 · Royalbroil / CC BY-SA 4.0Polk County Courthouse · Appraiser / CC BY-SA 3.0
Balsam Lake is a small town of 834 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $47,857
and a 7.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Balsam Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Balsam Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Balsam Lake city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.9
Balsam Lake's overall cost of living index is 94.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Balsam Lake costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Balsam Lake, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$170,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,148
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,857
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Balsam Lake's violent crime rate is 118.8 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.8 /100k
Property Crime
335.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Balsam Lake is served primarily by Unity School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Balsam Lake, WI
National Avg
School District
Unity School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Balsam Lake sees average highs of 22.0°F in January
and 80.8°F in July,
with 32.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 61.2 inches of snow per year.
Balsam Lake's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Balsam Lake roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $170,800 and median rent is $1,148/month.
Balsam Lake's violent crime rate is 118.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 335.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Balsam Lake are operated by Unity School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Balsam Lake, WI has a population of 834, a median household income of $47,857, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Balsam Lake averages 22.0°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.9 inches
with about 61.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Balsam Lake, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54810.
The population of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin is 834 with a median age of 41.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Balsam Lake: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $170,800, median household income $47,857, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Balsam Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
