The Town FilesFort Atkinson, Wisconsin
City in Jefferson County · population 12,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,800
- Household income
- $79,302
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 43.5
Fort Atkinson is a city of 12,579 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $211,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson is worth $211,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $79,302, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $961 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Atkinson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $961 | $951 |
| Median household income | $79,302 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Fort Atkinson
| People | Fort Atkinson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fort Atkinson
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Atkinson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 27, 1991 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 39 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 11, 2011.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 33,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,167 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Fort Atkinson itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Fort Atkinson
7 public schools with 2,332 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Atkinson High | 9-12 | 876 | 15.4 |
| Fort Atkinson Middle | 6-8 | 462 | 11.0 |
| Purdy Elementary | PK-5 | 268 | 12.2 |
| Luther Elementary | PK-5 | 247 | 10.7 |
| Barrie Elementary | PK-5 | 212 | 11.2 |
| Rockwell Elementary | PK-5 | 199 | 11.1 |
| Fort Atkinson 4K | PK-PK | 68 | 68.0 |
Towns near Fort Atkinson
- Koshkonong, WI2.1 mi · 3,763 people · home $391,700
- Jefferson, WI5.8 mi · 7,793 people · home $225,600
- Oakland, WI6.6 mi · 3,231 people · home $353,900
- Whitewater, WI8.2 mi · 14,889 people · home $229,400
- Milton, WI10.0 mi · 3,100 people · home $347,500
- Lake Mills, WI11.1 mi · 6,211 people · home $317,100
- Johnson Creek, WI11.4 mi · 3,318 people · home $314,200
- Milton, WI11.4 mi · 5,716 people · home $249,200
Fort Atkinson questions
Is Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Atkinson scores better for retirees than 28% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 14%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Fort Atkinson?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Atkinson is valued at $211,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,302, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $961 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Atkinson?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36.4 inches of snow.
Does Fort Atkinson get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Atkinson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 27, 1991. 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)