The Town FilesGeneva, Wisconsin
Town in Walworth County · population 5,390 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,400
- Household income
- $96,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 48.3
Geneva is a town of 5,390 people in Walworth County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $382,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Geneva 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 Geneva is worth $382,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $96,154, which is more affordable than 13% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,575 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Geneva | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,575 | $951 |
| Median household income | $96,154 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.7% | — |
Who lives in Geneva
| People | Geneva | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Geneva
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Geneva since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 21, 1966 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Walworth County since 1996
Walworth 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 Walworth County
Walworth County had 45,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Geneva itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Geneva
- Elkhorn, WI4.1 mi · 10,247 people · home $273,600
- Lake Geneva, WI4.2 mi · 8,277 people · home $343,800
- Williams Bay, WI4.5 mi · 2,953 people · home $444,700
- Delavan, WI4.9 mi · 5,273 people · home $302,700
- Lyons, WI6.1 mi · 3,648 people · home $315,900
- Linn, WI6.4 mi · 2,687 people · home $537,100
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI7.1 mi · 3,120 people · home $572,600
- Delavan Lake, WI7.4 mi · 2,803 people · home $355,500
Geneva questions
Is Geneva, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Geneva scores better for retirees than 92% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 13%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Geneva?
The median owner-occupied home in Geneva is valued at $382,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,154, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,575 a month.
What is the weather like in Geneva?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.1 inches of snow.
Does Geneva get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Geneva since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 21, 1966. 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)