Bruce is a village in Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 781 at the 2020 census. The village was founded in 1884 by the Sault Ste. Marie Land and Improvement Company. The land company was incorporated and led by the principal officers of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway, which operated its ceremonial first train over its line to Bruce in November 1884. It was named for Alanson C. Bruce who operated a logging camp in the area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code54819

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Bruce

Housing in Bruce

$222K▲ 8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Bruce home is worth about $222,000, up 8% in a year, 35% below the Wisconsin typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Bruce

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Bruce for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Ladysmith (11%), Eau Claire (9%) and Rice Lake (5%). Half commute less than 37 miles.

Ladysmith

11%

Eau Claire

Rice Lake

Chippewa Falls

11%Work in townlive and work in Bruce 37 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 464Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Bruce →

Health in Bruce

Compared with Wisconsin

1better than WI·11worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.1%More adults treating high blood pressureWI 77.8% · better 9.2%More adults with COPDWI 6.5% · worse

Care nearby

Marshfield Medical Center - LadysmithLadysmith · 8.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Family Health Center - Ladysmith Alcohol & Drug Recovery CenterLadysmith · 8.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Bruce · CMS · HRSAHealth in Bruce →

Natural hazards in Bruce

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

0Does Bruce flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Bruce MapBruce vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Bruce →

Climate in Bruce

Full climate →

Bruce has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 52 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 7°Winter

54° / 30°Spring

78° / 55°Summer

55° / 35°Fall

How much snow does Bruce get?About 52 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 22, with the last in spring around May 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Bruce →

Schools in Bruce

All Bruce schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Bruce’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 77% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictBruce School DistrictSchools3

Bruce Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 199 students Bruce Middle A-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 73 students Bruce High DHigh · Grades 9–12 · 116 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within WI. Ratings are from neighbors.