Iron River is a small town of 699 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $49,688
and a 3.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Iron River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Iron River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Iron River 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: 88.3
Iron River's overall cost of living index is 88.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Iron River costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Iron River, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$121,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$619
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,688
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Iron River'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
Iron River is served primarily by Maple School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Iron River, WI
National Avg
School District
Maple School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Iron River sees average highs of 20.2°F in January
and 77.6°F in July,
with 33.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 74.2 inches of snow per year.
Iron River's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Iron River roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $121,000 and median rent is $619/month.
Iron River'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.
Public schools in Iron River are operated by Maple School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Iron River, WI has a population of 699, a median household income of $49,688, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.
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.
Iron River averages 20.2°F in January and 77.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.4 inches
with about 74.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Iron River, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54847.
The population of Iron River, Wisconsin is 699 with a median age of 51.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Iron River: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $121,000, median household income $49,688, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Iron River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
