1990 · Mona Lisa barn art, Wisconsin · Library of Congress
Cornell’s story
Cornell in pictures
11 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
CornellWI
A town of 1,307. Public schools that outperform most of Wisconsin.
Population
1,307
−1% since 2010
Typical home
$236K
+4.2% in a year
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
535
Balanced
What makes Cornell stand out
The 3 things Cornell does most differently from other towns.
Small town
1,307 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
EstellaClevelandCornell
Cornell’s report card
Now in Cornell
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Cornell? Is an A for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Cornell’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Cornell. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Cornell’s public schools outperform 89% of Wisconsin districts
The public schools Cornell’s kids attend outperform 89% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell Elementary | PK–5 | 209 | A |
| Cornell Middle | 6–8 | 83 | B− |
| Cornell High | 9–12 | 100 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state testsAll 3 schools →
Health
Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns
Cornell beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
C−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better23 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Cornell | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 8.9% | 6.5% |
| More smokers | 17.7% | 13.6% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.5% | 6.6% |
Mayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley
17.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
6th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 23% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 1997
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Cornell home is worth about $236K
The typical Cornell home is worth about $236,000, up 4.2% in a year, 30% below the Wisconsin typical home.
$236KZillow home value
Typical home value
Cornell$236K
Wisconsin$340K
+4.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Cornell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
42″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring31–54°
Summer56–78°
Fall36–55°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Cornell
Most working residents leave Cornell for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Eau Claire (14%), Chippewa Falls (12%) and Cadott (4%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
14%work in town
Where working residents work
In Cornell14%
Eau Claire14%
Chippewa Falls12%
Cadott4%
Lake Holcombe3%
20 mi
median commute distance
535
jobs based in Cornell
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Crime reported in Cornell
Cornell's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. 4 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Cornell2.8
Wisconsin2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Cornell6.2
Wisconsin10.3
U.S.15.5
4
violent crimes reported in 2025
9
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Outdoors
6.1% of Cornell is conserved land
0.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
6.1%conserved
6.1%
conserved · 169 of 2,754 acres
0.4 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brunet Island State Park | 0.4 mi | 98 |
| 2. Mill Yard Park | — | 16 |
| 3. Brunet Falls Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
About Cornell
City in Wisconsin, United States
Cornell is a city in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,453 at the 2020 census, down from 1,467 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Chippewa River, upstream from Lake Wissota and Chippewa Falls, where Highway 64 crosses the river and Highway 27.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,453
- Area
- 4.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,083 ft
- ZIP code
- 54732