Gays Mills is a small town of 549 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $40,833
and a 7.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gays Mills stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gays Mills is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gays Mills 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: 91.4
Gays Mills's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gays Mills costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gays Mills, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$149,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$800
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,833
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Gays Mills's violent crime rate is 148.8 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.8 /100k
Property Crime
1549.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Gays Mills, WI
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gays Mills sees average highs of 27.3°F in January
and 83.2°F in July,
with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.8 inches of snow per year.
Gays Mills's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gays Mills roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $149,700 and median rent is $800/month.
Gays Mills's violent crime rate is 148.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1549.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Gays Mills, WI has a population of 549, a median household income of $40,833, and an unemployment rate of 7.5%.
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.
Gays Mills averages 27.3°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches
with about 37.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Gays Mills, Wisconsin is 549 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gays Mills: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $149,700, median household income $40,833, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gays Mills side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
