City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Chief Lake, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Chief Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

645
Residents
$67,813
Median income
$92,100
Median home
$1,051
Median rent (state)

Chief Lake - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Chief Lake lands in the 47th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

47th
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Chief Lake, WI

Wisconsin's Chief Lake is a small town, with 645 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Chief Lake brings in $67,813 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.2%. Typical homes in Chief Lake are valued around $92,100, and the median resident age is 46.9 years. Educational attainment runs 24.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,051 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 74.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

645 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$67,813 /yr

Poverty 9.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Chief Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Chief Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Chief Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Chief Lake near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 754 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Chief Lake ranks #717 - the 5th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Chief Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#388 of 753
48th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#418 of 761
44th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#717 of 754
5th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#207 of 761
73rd percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#315 of 761
58th percentile in Wisconsin

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

47thIncome percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Chief Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$92,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Chief Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Chief Lake, WI Chief Lake, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Chief Lake, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Chief Lake, WI median $67,813/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Chief Lake, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Chief Lake, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
645
Median Income
$67,813
Median Home Value
$92,100
Median Age
46.9
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Labor force participation
49.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.6%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.9%
Carpool
22.7%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.8%

Based on 238 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Chief Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,051/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Camp Douglas
646 people
Lily Lake
639 people
Melrose
637 people
Forest Junction
655 people
Wauzeka
655 people
Wausaukee
633 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Chief Lake's 645 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pineview, GA
645 people
Hutsonville, IL
645 people
Mayking, KY
645 people
Center Point, LA
645 people
Millington, MD
645 people
Atlanta, MI
645 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Chief Lake's $67,813 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Waiohinu, HI
$67,813 median income
Aberdeen, ID
$67,813 median income
Windom, MN
$67,813 median income
Harvard, NE
$67,813 median income
Cove, OR
$67,813 median income
Glen Hope, PA
$67,813 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Chief Lake, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Chief Lake, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 23.6% 71.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.4% White 23.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 71.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Chief Lake compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Chief Lake (this city) 645 $67,813
Camp Douglas 646 $63,125
Lily Lake 639 $78,558
Melrose 637 $50,208
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Chief Lake, WI?

What is the population of Chief Lake, WI? +

Chief Lake, WI has a population of 645 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Chief Lake, WI? +

Median annual household income in Chief Lake runs $67,813, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Chief Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Chief Lake; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Chief Lake, WI? +

Chief Lake's median home value sits at $92,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.