Very AffordableSafer than AverageMellen School District
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Mellen is a small town of 567 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $40,391
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mellen stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mellen is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mellen 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: 85.8
Mellen's overall cost of living index is 85.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mellen costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mellen, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$75,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$610
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,391
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mellen's violent crime rate is 199.2 per 100,000 residents
— 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
199.2 /100k
Property Crime
1792.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mellen is served primarily by Mellen School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mellen, WI
National Avg
School District
Mellen School District
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mellen sees average highs of 20.7°F in January
and 77.2°F in July,
with 34.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 102.6 inches of snow per year.
Mellen's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mellen roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $75,300 and median rent is $610/month.
Mellen's violent crime rate is 199.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1792.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mellen are operated by Mellen School District.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mellen, WI has a population of 567, a median household income of $40,391, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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.
Mellen averages 20.7°F in January and 77.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.7 inches
with about 102.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mellen, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54546.
The population of Mellen, Wisconsin is 567 with a median age of 51.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mellen: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $75,300, median household income $40,391, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mellen side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
