Bowler is a small town of 297 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $50,000
and a 0.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bowler stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Bowler is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bowler 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: 88.7
Bowler's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bowler costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bowler, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$127,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$636
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bowler's violent crime rate is 107.6 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
107.6 /100k
Property Crime
633.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Bowler is served primarily by Bowler School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Bowler, WI
National Avg
School District
Bowler School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bowler sees average highs of 23.0°F in January
and 78.4°F in July,
with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.9 inches of snow per year.
Bowler's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bowler roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $127,100 and median rent is $636/month.
Bowler's violent crime rate is 107.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 633.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Bowler are operated by Bowler School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.0:1. 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Bowler, WI has a population of 297, a median household income of $50,000, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
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.
Bowler averages 23.0°F in January and 78.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches
with about 47.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bowler, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54416.
The population of Bowler, Wisconsin is 297 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bowler: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $127,100, median household income $50,000, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bowler side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
