What are the schools like in Bayfield, WI?

Bayfield is served primarily by Bayfield School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.0:1.

What is the median household income in Bayfield?

The median household income in Bayfield, WI is $69,792 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Bayfield, WI?

Bayfield has an average high temperature of 22.5°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 73.5 inches.

Bayfield, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bayfield, WI affordable or expensive?

Bayfield's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bayfield is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $274,300 and the median rent is $993 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bayfield, WI?

Bayfield has a violent crime rate of 113.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 877.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bayfield, WI a Good Place to Live?

Bayfield is a small town of 617 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $69,792 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Bayfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bayfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bayfield 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: 96.1

Bayfield's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bayfield costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bayfield, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$274,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$993	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,792	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bayfield's violent crime rate is 113.1 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

113.1 /100k

Property Crime

877.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bayfield is served primarily by Bayfield School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bayfield, WI	National Avg
School District	Bayfield School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	55.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	100.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bayfield sees average highs of 22.5°F in January and 77.3°F in July, with 32.6 inches of annual precipitation and 73.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bayfield, WI
Average High — January	22.5°F
Average High — July	77.3°F
Annual Precipitation	32.6"
Annual Snowfall	73.5"

Demographics

Metric	Bayfield, WI	National Avg
Population	617	—
Median Age	63.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	9.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	9.9%	22.2%
65 and over	47.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Washburn, WI 10 mi Bayfront, WI 13 mi Cornucopia, WI 14 mi Diaperville, WI 16 mi Ashland, WI 16 mi

ZIP Codes in Bayfield

Bayfield, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

54814

Bayfield vs Other Cities

Bayfield, WI vs Washburn, WI Bayfield, WI vs Bayfront, WI Bayfield, WI vs Cornucopia, WI Bayfield, WI vs Diaperville, WI Bayfield, WI vs Ashland, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bayfield, WI affordable or expensive?

Bayfield's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bayfield roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $274,300 and median rent is $993/month.

What is the crime rate in Bayfield, WI?

Bayfield's violent crime rate is 113.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 877.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bayfield?

Public schools in Bayfield are operated by Bayfield School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1. 55.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bayfield, WI a good place to live?

Bayfield, WI has a population of 617, a median household income of $69,792, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bayfield?

Bayfield averages 22.5°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.6 inches with about 73.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bayfield?

Bayfield, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54814.

What is the population of Bayfield?

The population of Bayfield, Wisconsin is 617 with a median age of 63.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bayfield?

Key numbers for living in Bayfield: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $274,300, median household income $69,792, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bayfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.