Thornapple is a town in Rusk County, Wisconsin, home to about 659 people across 51 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 54819 and 54848.
Homes sold for a median of $153 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Bruce; part is in Thornapple
Mostly Ladysmith; part is in Thornapple
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Thornapple. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Thornapple’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)107 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)44 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | St. Paul, MN100 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL305 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Thornapple; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Thornapple had 721 residents in the 2020 census, down 11% since 2000.
It’s the 1274th largest of 1,889 towns in Wisconsin by population.
Rusk County grew from 11,160 residents in 1910 to 14,188 in 2020.
Rusk County, 1910–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average 2°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 52 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Ladysmith 3w, WI weather station (3 miles away).
4,275 jobs at 321 businesses in Rusk County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
82 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Thornapple’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 11 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 10 |
| Dentists | 10 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 17 |
| Mental health providers | 12 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 17 |
| Chiropractors | 5 |
| Pharmacies | 6 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (5 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 4.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Bruce School District, Ladysmith School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce ElementaryBruce | Pre-K–5 | 199 | Public | 4.3 mi |
| Ladysmith ElementaryLadysmith | Pre-K–5 | 328 | Public | 4.4 mi |
| Bruce MiddleBruce | 6–8 | 73 | Public | 4.3 mi |
| Ladysmith MiddleLadysmith | 6–8 | 144 | Public | 5.3 mi |
| Bruce HighBruce | 9–12 | 116 | Public | 4.3 mi |
| Ladysmith HighLadysmith | 9–12 | 255 | Public | 5.3 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Sorrows SchoolLadysmith | Pre-K–8 | 55 | Roman Catholic | 4.1 mi |
| North Cedar AcademyLadysmith | 9–12 | 15 | Nonsectarian | 3.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Ladysmith, Flambeau Town (Rusk County), Bruce, Grant Town (Rusk County), Atlanta, Stubbs, Washington Town (Rusk County), Big Bend Town, Dewey Town (Rusk County), Hubbard Town, Murry and Big Falls Town.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.