Bayfield County
WI · Pop. 16,410 · Rural County
Bayfield County sits in Wisconsin across 1,478 square miles, home to 16,410 people at 11.1 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $228,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.07%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 120-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.9°F and average winter lows of 4.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 30.8 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Memorial Medical Center is 14.4 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 90.2% of homes.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 90.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- At 11.1 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- A low poverty rate of 8.9% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- A 120-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- The nearest hospital, Memorial Medical Center, is 14.4 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- Average winter lows of 4.5°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Bayfield County, WI is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 58/100
- Median home price
- $228k
- Property tax
- 1.07%
- Growing season
- 120 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 30.8"
- Broadband
- 90.2%
- Nearest hospital
- Memorial Medical Center, 14.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Bayfield County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Bayfield County?
- Bayfield County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 120-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.9°F, and average winter lows of 4.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $228,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.07%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 90.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Memorial Medical Center is 14.4 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Wisconsin Resources
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LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in Wisconsin
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The closest counties to Bayfield County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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