Ladysmith is a city and the county seat of Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States, where U.S. Route 8 and Wisconsin Highway 27 meet and cross the Flambeau River. The population was 3,216 at the 2020 census. The town has transitioned from logging in the 1800s to a 2025 economy dominated by manufacturing, then healthcare and social assistance, retail, and public administration.

Official town website ↗

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

How Ladysmith ranks

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#7Most affordable in WI #12Lowest property tax in WI #69Shortest commute in WI All WI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code54848

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Ladysmith

Housing in Ladysmith

$194K▲ 9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Ladysmith home is worth about $194,000, up 9% in a year, 43% below the Wisconsin typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Ladysmith

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Ladysmith reports less crime per resident than 76% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Ladysmith 0.9

Wisconsin 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Ladysmith 4.7

Wisconsin 10.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Ladysmith

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About one in 3 of Ladysmith’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Hawkins (5%), Eau Claire (5%) and Rice Lake (3%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Hawkins

Eau Claire

Rice Lake

Grant

37%Work in townlive and work in Ladysmith 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,441Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Ladysmith →

Health in Ladysmith

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 17% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 63% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Wisconsin

1better than WI·16worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.9%More adults treating high blood pressureWI 77.8% · better 10.5%More adults with COPDWI 6.5% · worse

Care nearby

Marshfield Medical Center - LadysmithLadysmith · 0.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

Family Health Center - Ladysmith Alcohol & Drug Recovery CenterLadysmith · 0.4 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 Ladysmith · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ladysmith →

Natural hazards in Ladysmith

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 41% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

3Does Ladysmith flood?paid flood claims since 1994 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Ladysmith MapLadysmith vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Ladysmith

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Ladysmith has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 52 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 7°Winter

53° / 30°Spring

77° / 55°Summer

55° / 35°Fall

How much snow does Ladysmith 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?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Ladysmith

All Ladysmith schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Ladysmith’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 66% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

See how Ladysmith’s schools compare in WI →

DistrictLadysmith School DistrictSchools5

Ladysmith Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 328 students Our Lady of Sorrows SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 74 students Ladysmith Middle B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 144 students Ladysmith High DHigh · Grades 9–12 · 255 students North Cedar AcademyHigh · Grades 9–12 · 15 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.