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Living in
Plover.
About
Life in Plover
If you're considering Plover, understand first that you're moving to a genuine small city that's grown explosively—the population has jumped 416% since 1970—not a sleepy town frozen in time. The economy here runs on agriculture and food processing; Monogram Food Solutions and Basic American Foods are major employers, and the village has become a regional retail powerhouse with over $546 million in annual sales. That economic strength translates directly to your wallet: median household income sits around $83,000-$88,000, roughly 15-20% above state and regional averages, with a robust job market reflected in a 3% unemployment rate and a low 9.2% poverty rate.
Plover at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Foreign-Born
4.9%
Broadband Internet
95.2%
of households
Population Growth
+5.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Plover: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Plover, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (33.7%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
50.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WI
Rent, home values, and income in Plover
Rent and home values here are close to the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$4,157
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $348,129 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Plover
Unemployment in Portage County, which includes Plover, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Plover: Portage County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Portage County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Plover Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18 min avg
How Plover residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Plover, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
Regional airport · few flights88k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Plover runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
118.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
911.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Plover Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
62.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Portage County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Portage County, which includes Plover, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 8 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 10 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 6 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Winter Storm | $110,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Portage County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marathon County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 32 miles from Plover) is typically good — 262 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
262
per year
Moderate Days
71
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Marathon County, WI (32 mi away)
Climate78°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Plover has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.0"
Annual Snowfall
48.7"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 1.21" |
| Feb | 28°F | 9°F | 1.11" |
| Mar | 40°F | 21°F | 1.80" |
| Apr | 54°F | 33°F | 3.37" |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 4.08" |
| Jun | 76°F | 56°F | 5.00" |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 78°F | 58°F | 3.79" |
| Sep | 70°F | 50°F | 3.62" |
| Oct | 57°F | 37°F | 2.73" |
| Nov | 42°F | 26°F | 1.90" |
| Dec | 29°F | 14°F | 1.54" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Plover
Uninsured
6.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Plover's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital & Clinics, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Stevens Point
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Plover
Plover's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Plover (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 7,306 students · in-state tuition $9,669 · 60% graduate · median earnings $54,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Plover
Plover has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
33 mi awayPublic Libraries in Plover
Plover Branch
2151 Roosevelt Dr., Plover
Cities Near Plover
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Plover?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Plover FAQ
Is Plover, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Plover's median rent is $1,089/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $88,042/year. Median home value is $269,800.
Is Plover, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Plover's violent crime rate was 118 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 911 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Plover, Wisconsin?⌄
Portage County, which includes Plover, has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Plover, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Plover is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,089/month and median household income is $88,042/year. The median home value is $269,800. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Plover, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Plover is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from