Iron River, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Iron River, Wisconsin had a total population of 826, the 434th largest community in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $50,536, which is 35% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.1%.
Iron River Quick Facts
How Iron River Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 752 | 826 | +9.8% |
| Median household income | $55,294 | $50,536 | -8.6% |
| Median home value | $152,100 | $171,100 | +12.5% |
How Iron River Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 37 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Iron River Rankings in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin Rankings
Other Cities in Bayfield County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn | 1,884 | $62,128 | 6.7% | $178,900 |
| Bayfield | 565 | $70,982 | 8.5% | $320,100 |
| Cable | 207 | $33,333 | 42.0% | $116,200 |
| Port Wing | 148 | $52,500 | 28.4% | $162,500 |
| Drummond | 141 | $68,958 | 24.8% | $175,000 |
| Grand View | 138 | $68,750 | 14.5% | $105,700 |
| Cornucopia | 108 | $104,375 | 3.7% | $279,400 |
| Mason | 93 | $71,667 | 12.9% | $112,500 |
| Herbster | 83 | $50,833 | 19.3% | $275,000 |
Cities Similar to Iron River
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain City | 835 | $51,750 | $169,000 | 28.3% | 11.3% |
| Centuria | 806 | $49,821 | $145,600 | 7.1% | 23.2% |
| Friendship | 813 | $48,631 | $115,100 | 10.3% | 34.9% |
| Shiocton | 825 | $60,313 | $173,700 | 8.3% | 8.2% |
| Whitelaw | 862 | $57,027 | $182,800 | 10.7% | 6.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 826, Iron River's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Iron River is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Bayfield County. The total population is 826. It ranks as the 434th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.
Age Demographics
The median age in Iron River is 46.9 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Iron River is $50,536. This is 35% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.4%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $171,100. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 64.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 67.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Iron River is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%.
Education
21.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Iron River, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Wisconsin city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Iron River, Wisconsin?
Iron River, Wisconsin has a population of 826 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Iron River, WI?
The median household income in Iron River is $50,536, which is 37% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Iron River, WI?
The poverty rate in Iron River is 14.4%. This means approximately 116 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Iron River, Wisconsin?
Iron River's population is 85.0% White, 0.0% Black, 6.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Iron River, WI?
The median home value in Iron River is $171,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x.
How educated is Iron River, Wisconsin?
21.0% of adults (25+) in Iron River hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.