Florence is a small town of 477 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $30,500
and a 16.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 77 (US average = 100), which is
23% below the national average.
Strengths:
Florence 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 Florence is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Florence 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: 76.7
Florence's overall cost of living index is 76.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Florence costs roughly 23% less than the average American city.
Metric
Florence, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$33,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$320
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Florence's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents
— 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
279.4 /100k
Property Crime
163.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Florence is served primarily by Florence County School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Florence, WI
National Avg
School District
Florence County School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Florence sees average highs of 21.9°F in January
and 77.5°F in July,
with 30.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 65.6 inches of snow per year.
Florence's cost of living index is 77, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Florence roughly 23% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $33,500 and median rent is $320/month.
Florence's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 163.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Florence are operated by Florence County School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1. 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Florence, WI has a population of 477, a median household income of $30,500, and an unemployment rate of 16.6%.
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.
Florence averages 21.9°F in January and 77.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.4 inches
with about 65.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Florence, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54121.
The population of Florence, Wisconsin is 477 with a median age of 57.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Florence: cost of living index 77 (100 = US average), median home $33,500, median household income $30,500, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Florence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
