City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Nichols, WI

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

278
Residents
$56,875
Median income
$145,300
Median home
$1,236
Median rent (state)

Nichols - the verdict

Nichols ranks in the 30th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

30th
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
40th
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: Nichols, WI

Wisconsin's Nichols is a small town, with 278 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Nichols brings in $56,875 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.7%. Typical homes in Nichols are valued around $145,300, and the median resident age is 40.4 years. 6.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 66.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity).

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 $1,236 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Wisconsin run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.7 out of 100 (High).

Population

278 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$56,875 /yr

Poverty 11.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Nichols compare to other US cities?

Where Nichols sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% 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 Nichols against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Nichols near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Nichols ranks #704 - the 7th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Nichols only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#567 of 753
24th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#146 of 761
77th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#527 of 754
30th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#132 of 761
82nd percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#704 of 761
7th 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.

30thIncome percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Nichols's home value compares nationally

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

$145,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Nichols $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 - Nichols, WI Nichols, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Nichols, 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 Nichols, WI median $56,875/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%
Nichols, 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 Nichols, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.5%

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

Population
278
Median Income
$56,875
Median Home Value
$145,300
Median Age
40.4
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Labor force participation
66.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.7%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
283 residents284 residents285 residents286 residents287 residents288 residents 202020212022202320242025 287 residents 287 residents ▲ +0.0%
Nichols's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 1
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
97.8%
Carpool
0.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.4%

Based on 138 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 Nichols sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Birch Hill
279 people
Lac La Belle
277 people
Baileys Harbor
280 people
Kingston
283 people
Bear Creek
271 people
Oakdale
285 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Nichols's 278 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Elim, AK
278 people
Palominas, AZ
278 people
Acampo, CA
278 people
Leroy, IN
278 people
Rutledge, MN
278 people
Truchas, NM
278 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Nichols's $56,875 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Big Lagoon, CA
$56,875 median income
Yankeetown, FL
$56,875 median income
Parker City, IN
$56,875 median income
Williamsport, IN
$56,875 median income
Clarence, IA
$56,875 median income
Edgewood, IA
$56,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Nichols, 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 Nichols, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.7% 9.3% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.8% White 77.7% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.3% Two or more races 9.3% 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 Nichols 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
Nichols (this city) 278 $56,875
Birch Hill 279 $51,875
Lac La Belle 277 $206,250
Baileys Harbor 280 $71,800
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Nichols, WI?

What is the population of Nichols, WI? +

Nichols, WI has a population of 278 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Nichols, WI? +

Nichols households earn a median of $56,875 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Nichols? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Nichols; 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 Nichols, WI? +

Homes in Nichols carry a median value of $145,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, 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.