Very AffordableVery SafeBlack River Falls School District
Black River Falls dam and hydro plant · Wikideas1 / CC0WS 7 I94 FHWA 1967 784 · Federal Highway Adminstration / Public domainBlack River Falls City Hall · Wikideas1 / CC0Black River Falls Senior High School · Royalbroil / CC BY-SA 3.0
Black River Falls is a small town of 3,488 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $42,798
and a 4.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Black River Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Black River Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Black River Falls 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: 89.5
Black River Falls's overall cost of living index is 89.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Black River Falls costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Black River Falls, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$124,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$707
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,798
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Black River Falls's violent crime rate is 57.2 per 100,000 residents
— 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
57.2 /100k
Property Crime
2546.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Black River Falls is served primarily by Black River Falls School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Black River Falls, WI
National Avg
School District
Black River Falls School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Black River Falls sees average highs of 24.0°F in January
and 81.3°F in July,
with 36.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.2 inches of snow per year.
Black River Falls's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Black River Falls roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $124,700 and median rent is $707/month.
Black River Falls's violent crime rate is 57.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2546.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Black River Falls are operated by Black River Falls School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Black River Falls, WI has a population of 3,488, a median household income of $42,798, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%.
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.
Black River Falls averages 24.0°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.8 inches
with about 41.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Black River Falls, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54615.
The population of Black River Falls, Wisconsin is 3,488 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Black River Falls: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $124,700, median household income $42,798, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Black River Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
