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Living in
Superior.
About
Life in Superior
Superior works best if you want access to Great Lakes living without the price tag of trendier waterfront cities. Housing is genuinely affordable—median home values sit around $180,400 and rent averages $900 a month—which goes a long way in a place where the median household income is $64,216. Jobs exist primarily in transportation, manufacturing, and port operations; the unemployment rate hovers around 4.1%, but these aren't glamorous sectors, and career growth may require looking toward Duluth or beyond.
Superior at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Foreign-Born
2.4%
Broadband Internet
86.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Superior: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Superior, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (18.2%), and 0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.0%
of residents
65 and Older
17.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.6%
of households
Married Couples
36.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
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 17% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Superior
In Superior, rent runs 17% below the WI average, and home values are 32% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,645
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $233,487 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above WI average
Unemployment in Superior
Unemployment in Superior is 0.8 percentage points higher than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Superior Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.1 min avg
How Superior residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Superior, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Duluth International Airport (DLH)
Regional airport · few flights142k passengers boarded in 2025
- 138 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M 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 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Superior runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
222
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,839.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Superior Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
62.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Douglas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Douglas County, which includes Superior, the most common type is heavy snow, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 22 | Heavy Snow | $490,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Heavy Snow | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Heavy Snow | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 21 | Heavy Snow | $25,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Douglas County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Carlton County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 29 miles from Superior) is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
49
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Carlton County, MN (29 mi away)
Climate73°F summers, 9°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Superior has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and very cold winters (avg low 9°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
47°/31°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
53°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/9°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.5"
Annual Snowfall
56.0"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 6°F | 0.81" |
| Feb | 27°F | 9°F | 0.89" |
| Mar | 36°F | 21°F | 1.41" |
| Apr | 46°F | 32°F | 2.64" |
| May | 57°F | 41°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 67°F | 50°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 76°F | 58°F | 3.88" |
| Aug | 75°F | 58°F | 3.92" |
| Sep | 67°F | 50°F | 3.39" |
| Oct | 53°F | 39°F | 3.17" |
| Nov | 39°F | 26°F | 2.12" |
| Dec | 27°F | 13°F | 1.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Superior
Superior has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
St Marys Hospital Superior
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Duluth
Essentia Health Duluth
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.9 mi away · Duluth
St Lukes Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Duluth
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Superior
Superior's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Superior
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Public · 4-year · 1,807 students · in-state tuition $9,272 · 50% graduate · median earnings $51,871 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Duluth
8.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 7,336 students · in-state tuition $15,200 · 64% graduate · median earnings $67,944 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,471 students · in-state tuition $5,931 · 43% graduate · median earnings $49,942 (10 yrs after entry)
The College of Saint Scholastica
8.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,765 students · in-state tuition $43,050 · 74% graduate · median earnings $72,044 (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: North Country National Scenic Trail, 65 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Superior
Superior has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being North Country National Scenic Trail (65 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
North Country National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
65 mi awayApostle Islands National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
70 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Superior
Superior Public Library
1530 Tower Ave., Superior
Cities Near Superior
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Superior?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Superior FAQ
Is Superior, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Superior's median rent is $900/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,216/year. Median home value is $180,400.
Is Superior, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Superior's violent crime rate was 222 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1840 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Superior, Wisconsin?⌄
Superior has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Superior, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Superior is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $900/month and median household income is $64,216/year. The median home value is $180,400. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Superior, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Superior is 16 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