The Town FilesAlden, Wisconsin
Town in Polk County · population 2,918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $371,000
- Household income
- $94,878
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 50.1
Alden is a town of 2,918 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $371,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Alden ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alden is worth $371,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $94,878, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. 95.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alden | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $371,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,878 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.8% | — |
Who lives in Alden
| People | Alden | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 34.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Alden
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alden since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 12, 1967 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 16,162 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,798 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Alden itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Alden
- Star Prairie, WI7.3 mi · 3,733 people · home $320,500
- Amery, WI7.9 mi · 2,962 people · home $183,000
- Osceola, WI8.2 mi · 3,023 people · home $339,500
- New Richmond, WI9.0 mi · 10,079 people · home $285,100
- Osceola, WI10.2 mi · 2,765 people · home $230,600
- Somerset, WI11.9 mi · 3,019 people · home $286,600
- Somerset, WI12.0 mi · 4,291 people · home $464,800
- Richmond, WI12.9 mi · 4,074 people · home $407,000
Alden questions
Is Alden, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alden scores better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 90%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.1).
How much does a house cost in Alden?
The median owner-occupied home in Alden is valued at $371,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,878, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Alden?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 45.8 inches of snow.
Does Alden get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 12, 1967. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)