What are the schools like in Turtle Lake, WI?

Turtle Lake is served primarily by Turtle Lake School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

What is the median household income in Turtle Lake?

The median household income in Turtle Lake, WI is $60,781 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Turtle Lake, WI?

Turtle Lake has an average high temperature of 29.2°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.9 inches.

Turtle Lake, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Turtle Lake, WI affordable or expensive?

Turtle Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Turtle Lake is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $307,400 and the median rent is $866 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Turtle Lake, WI?

Turtle Lake has a violent crime rate of 85.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 547.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Turtle Lake, WI a Good Place to Live?

Turtle Lake is a small town of 268 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $60,781 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Turtle Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Turtle Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Turtle Lake 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: 95.6

Turtle Lake's overall cost of living index is 95.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Turtle Lake costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Turtle Lake, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$307,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$866	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,781	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Turtle Lake's violent crime rate is 85.7 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

85.7 /100k

Property Crime

547.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Turtle Lake is served primarily by Turtle Lake School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Turtle Lake, WI	National Avg
School District	Turtle Lake School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Turtle Lake sees average highs of 29.2°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 36.7 inches of annual precipitation and 33.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Turtle Lake, WI
Average High — January	29.2°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	36.7"
Annual Snowfall	33.9"

Demographics

Metric	Turtle Lake, WI	National Avg
Population	268	—
Median Age	56.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	44.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	13.8%	22.2%
65 and over	18.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake Lorraine, WI 3 mi Lauderdale Lakes, WI 6 mi Delavan, WI 7 mi Whitewater, WI 8 mi Elkhorn, WI 8 mi

Turtle Lake vs Other Cities

Turtle Lake, WI vs Lake Lorraine, WI Turtle Lake, WI vs Lauderdale Lakes, WI Turtle Lake, WI vs Delavan, WI Turtle Lake, WI vs Whitewater, WI Turtle Lake, WI vs Elkhorn, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Turtle Lake, WI affordable or expensive?

Turtle Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Turtle Lake roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $307,400 and median rent is $866/month.

What is the crime rate in Turtle Lake, WI?

Turtle Lake's violent crime rate is 85.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 547.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Turtle Lake?

Public schools in Turtle Lake are operated by Turtle Lake School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 33.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Turtle Lake, WI a good place to live?

Turtle Lake, WI has a population of 268, a median household income of $60,781, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Turtle Lake?

Turtle Lake averages 29.2°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.7 inches with about 33.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Turtle Lake?

The population of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin is 268 with a median age of 56.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Turtle Lake?

Key numbers for living in Turtle Lake: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $307,400, median household income $60,781, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Turtle Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.