The Town FilesBeaver Dam, Wisconsin
City in Dodge County · population 16,708 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,900
- Household income
- $66,673
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 40.1
Beaver Dam is a city of 16,708 people in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $201,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 98% of Wisconsin towns.
How Beaver Dam 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 Beaver Dam is worth $201,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $66,673, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 55.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beaver Dam | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $959 | $951 |
| Median household income | $66,673 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Beaver Dam
| People | Beaver Dam | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Beaver Dam
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beaver Dam since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 7, 1980 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 29, 1984.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 13 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 36,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,552 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Beaver Dam itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Beaver Dam
7 public schools with 2,725 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam High | 9-12 | 1,052 | 15.7 |
| Beaver Dam Middle | 6-8 | 641 | 12.8 |
| Prairie View Elementary | PK-5 | 351 | 12.5 |
| Washington Elementary | K-5 | 228 | 12.7 |
| Lincoln Elementary | K-5 | 194 | 9.7 |
| BDUSD4Kids | PK-PK | 178 | 178.0 |
| Wilson Elementary | PK-5 | 81 | 8.1 |
Towns near Beaver Dam
- Beaver Dam, WI2.2 mi · 4,062 people · home $261,400
- Juneau, WI8.0 mi · 2,658 people · home $186,700
- Horicon, WI9.6 mi · 3,767 people · home $172,500
- Fox Lake, WI9.9 mi · 2,588 people · home $364,200
- Waupun, WI11.7 mi · 11,344 people · home $188,600
- Columbus, WI13.9 mi · 5,540 people · home $230,600
- Mayville, WI14.1 mi · 5,196 people · home $193,000
- Watertown, WI20.4 mi · 22,926 people · home $222,100
Beaver Dam questions
Is Beaver Dam, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beaver Dam scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 3%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Beaver Dam?
The median owner-occupied home in Beaver Dam is valued at $201,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,673, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Beaver Dam?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Beaver Dam get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beaver Dam since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 7, 1980. 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)