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Rusk County, WI
9 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Rusk County, Wisconsin.
Population
14,179
Land area
914sq mi
People per sq mi
16
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Rusk County
Rusk County at a glance
- Rusk County is 86% less dense than Wisconsin as a whole.
- The median household income is $59,944, 23% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $163,400 (39% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $874 a month.
- Its largest cities are Ladysmith (3,227), Bruce (900) and Hawkins (322).
Local data for Rusk County, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rusk County, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,944
Poverty rate
13.1%
Median home value
$163,400
Prices +0.5% in a year
Median rent
$874/mo
Homeownership
77.9%
Bachelor's or higher
16.9%
Median age
49.2
Average commute
26.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (4,918), Irish Americans (1,284), Polish Americans (1,203).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$46,724
4,396 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,504
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$110M
FY 2026, $7,749 per person
PPP loans
$16.7M
408 loans, 2,025 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$48.1K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Rusk County, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.5%
- Carpooled10.8%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home9.2%
Average one-way commute: 26.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rusk County, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
284
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
14
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
79° / 2°F
35.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rusk County, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.1%
U.S. 33.3% +7.8 pts
Diabetes
14.9%
U.S. 12.1% +2.8 pts
Smoking
17.5%
U.S. 12.8% +4.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.4%
U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rusk County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Rusk County, WI?
- Ladysmith is the largest city or town in Rusk County, with about 3,227 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Rusk County?
- Rusk County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 54526, 54530, 54563, 54731, 54819.
- What is the population of Rusk County, WI?
- About 14,179 people live in Rusk County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Rusk County?
- Rusk County borders Chippewa County, Barron County, Taylor County, Sawyer County, Washburn County, Price County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023