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Compare towns

Lorain vs Wilson

50 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (140× in Lorain) and street grid (6.9× in Wilson).

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Lorain, WIAn outdoors townPolk County · 279 people
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Wilson, WIOne of the healthiest townsWisconsin · 200 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

LorainAn outdoors town
Outdoors25.3% conserved land14 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Lorain →
WilsonOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 54%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#105 most conserved land in WI0.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Wilson →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails140×
Lorain has more miles of trail
Lorain 14.0 miWilson 0.1 mi
Street grid6.9×
Wilson has the more walkable street grid
Wilson 7.6Lorain 1.1
Jobs per worker8.3×
Lorain is more of a job hub
Lorain 0.25Wilson 0.03
Conserved land+25.3 pts
Lorain has more conserved land
Lorain 25.3%Wilson 0%
Seasonal homes+20.2 pts
Lorain has more second homes
Lorain 24.5%Wilson 4.3%
Property tax bill+36%
Tax bills are bigger in Wilson
Wilson $2,696Lorain $1,983
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,190 more a month in Wilson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Lorain$1,260/mo
Typical home $209K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · Housing →
Wilson$2,450/mo
Typical home $391K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.24% · or rent about $1,667/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,190 a month, about $14,300 a year, between Wilson and Lorain.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health
–LorainNot graded B−WilsonHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
LorainWilson
Snow a year61″41″
January low5°F5°F
July high81°F82°F
Growing season (days)149d143d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd30th
Outdoors & history
LorainWilson
Trails14 mi0 mi
Conserved land25.3%0%
Community
LorainWilson
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

50 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LorainPolk CountyWilsonWI
Lorain ↔ Wilson50 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

LorainWilson
People
Population 279Highest 200Lowest
Median age 42.1±15.2Highest 5% above WI 39.9±6.8Lowest about the WI average
Lorain and Wilson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.5%±6.4Lowest WI: 21.4% 18%±7Highest WI: 21.4%
Wilson and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24.4%±3.7Highest WI: 18.5% 13%±10.5Lowest WI: 18.5%
Lorain and Wilson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17.7%Highest WI: 33.4% 17.4%Lowest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8% 3.5%±4Highest WI: 5.8%
Wilson and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $75,750±$15kLowest about the WI average $88,750±$32kHighest 15% above WI
Wilson and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $208,600±$19kLowest 22% below WI $216,700±$48kHighest 19% below WI
Wilson and Lorain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $1,667±$226 53% above WI
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,983Lowest 48% below WI $2,696Highest 29% below WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100 WI: 43.7% 0%±100 WI: 43.7%
Below poverty line 3.2%Lowest WI: 10.6% 10.4%Highest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97.3%Highest WI: 67.8% 90.9%Lowest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1976Highest 1 yr newer than WI 1974Lowest 1 yr older than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 35 minHighest 58% above WI 31 minLowest 39% above WI
Work from home 9.6%±5.9Highest WI: 13.1% 9.4%±7Lowest WI: 13.1%
Lorain and Wilson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.8%Lowest 1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miHighest 24.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.25Highest 0.03Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Frederic (8%)Menomonie (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WilsonFew work in Lorain
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 25.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 14.0 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.1Lowest 7.6Highest
Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Lorain neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lorain’s Town Square.

Wilson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wilson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Lorain and Wilson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Lorain

L
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La Follette657 people · $309K homes
M
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McKinley397 people · $220K homes
C
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Clam Falls543 people · $206K homes
R
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Roosevelt281 people · $243K homes

Towns like Lorain

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Peru321 people · $200K homes
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Strickland321 people · $228K homes
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Wells430 people · $230K homes
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Grover230 people · $250K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Wisconsin towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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