Medford vs Rib Lake
Medford, Wisconsin versus Rib Lake, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Rib Lake edges out Medford on overall objective livability (47 vs 37 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Medford | Rib Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $54k | $56k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $147k | $96k |
| Monthly Rent | $791 | $690 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $260 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.82% | 1.83% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.40% | 12.63% |
| Unemployment | 4.5% | 1.9% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 14°F | 14°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2 in | 33.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 57.0 in | 50.9 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 80 days | 78 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 65.5 | 68.3 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 41 AQI |
| School Quality | 29.7 | 51.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1117/100k | 0/100k |
| Property Crime | 1815/100k | 438/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 4,317 | 903 |
| Median Age | 42.7 | 46.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.12 | 0.20 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.04 | 0.83 |
| Political Leaning | R+48 | R+48 |
| White (%) | 92.5% | 87.6% |
| Black (%) | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.2% | 7.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.4% | 2.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.7% | 3.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Walkability | 6.3/20 | 5.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 142 mi | 150 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.4% | 83.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 64.86 | 88.59 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Medford or Rib Lake more affordable?
- Rib Lake has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Medford's $46k and Rib Lake's $46k. Median rent is $791 in Medford versus $690 in Rib Lake.
- Is Medford or Rib Lake safer?
- Rib Lake has the lower violent crime rate. Medford reports 1117/100k and Rib Lake reports 0/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Medford or Rib Lake?
- The median home value is $147k in Medford and $96k in Rib Lake, so homes are more affordable in Rib Lake.