The Town FilesDeForest, Wisconsin
Village in Dane County · population 10,811 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $359,600
- Household income
- $106,419
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 40.7
DeForest is a village of 10,811 people in Dane County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $359,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 92% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 92% of Wisconsin towns.
How DeForest 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 DeForest is worth $359,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $106,419, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,442 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | DeForest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,442 | $951 |
| Median household income | $106,419 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in DeForest
| People | DeForest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in DeForest
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of DeForest since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 7, 1984 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 7, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 110 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Dane County since 1996
Dane County has been included in 19 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dane County
Dane County had 359,249 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,481 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in DeForest itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in DeForest
6 public schools with 3,641 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Forest High | 9-12 | 1,118 | 14.3 |
| Harvest Intermediate School | 4-6 | 950 | 14.0 |
| De Forest Middle | 7-8 | 568 | 12.1 |
| Eagle Point Elementary | PK-3 | 363 | 11.7 |
| Yahara Elementary | K-3 | 347 | 13.3 |
| Early Learning Program | PK-PK | 295 | 24.6 |
Towns near DeForest
- Windsor, WI3.4 mi · 8,754 people · home $425,600
- Burke, WI4.2 mi · 3,265 people · home $368,500
- Westport, WI6.0 mi · 4,191 people · home $418,700
- Waunakee, WI6.0 mi · 14,879 people · home $515,900
- Sun Prairie, WI6.3 mi · 35,967 people · home $365,700
- Madison, WI10.7 mi · 269,840 people · home $372,900
- Springfield, WI11.1 mi · 2,929 people · home $554,700
- Lodi, WI11.4 mi · 3,189 people · home $328,200
DeForest questions
Is DeForest, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, DeForest scores better for retirees than 6% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in DeForest?
The median owner-occupied home in DeForest is valued at $359,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,419, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,442 a month.
What is the weather like in DeForest?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does DeForest get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of DeForest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 7, 1984. 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)